HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1354

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HOUSING.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


PART I

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that affordable housing is a serious concern for many Hawaii residents.  According to the 2011 Hawaii Housing Planning Study, up to fifty thousand new housing units will need to be built by 2016 to meet the new demand generated by changing demographics and economic conditions.  Failure to produce sufficient units for low- and moderate-income households will cause pent-up demand in these market segments.

     The legislature also finds that according to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority Annual Report For Fiscal Year 2013, the Hawaii public housing authority's public housing stock still has extensive and growing capital needs, currently estimated at $500,000,000, that continue to be underfunded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to various housing agencies to improve the quality of existing public and affordable housing stock and increase the supply of affordable and public housing units in the State.

PART II

     SECTION 2.  The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2015-2016 for deposit into the rental housing trust fund established pursuant to section 201H-202, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the rental housing trust fund the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the purposes set forth in section 201H-202, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation for the purposes of this part.

PART III

     SECTION 4.  The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2015-2016 to be deposited into the dwelling unit revolving fund established pursuant to section 201H-191, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the dwelling unit revolving fund the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the development of infrastructure and improvements of on-site and off-site development.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation for the purposes of this part.

PART IV

     SECTION 6.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the construction of micro apartment housing units.

     For the purposes of this part, "micro apartment housing unit" means a dwelling unit with a total floor area of not less than two hundred twenty square feet, and not more than three hundred twenty square feet for not more than two occupants, and containing a separate closet, kitchen sink, cooking appliance, refrigeration facilities, and separate bathroom containing a toilet and a bathtub or shower.  The minimum and maximum total floor area shall increase an additional one hundred square feet for each occupant in excess of two.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation for the purposes of this part.

PART V

     SECTION 7.  Native Hawaiians are disproportionately represented among Hawaii's homeless at twenty-eight per cent of the homeless served.  The legislature finds that homelessness is often a revolving door for many native Hawaiian families who struggle with stability and affordable housing and that increasing the availability of housing on homestead land will go a long way in improving the stability of native Hawaiian households.

     SECTION 8.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to construct housing for native Hawaiian beneficiaries on department of Hawaiian home lands homestead land.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of Hawaiian home lands for the purposes of this part.

PART VI

     SECTION 9.  Many veterans fall into homelessness due to the shortage of affordable housing.  According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, one out of every six men and women in our nation's homeless shelters are veterans.

     SECTION 10.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to build affordable housing projects for veterans.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation for the purposes of this part.

PART VII

     SECTION 11.  No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2016 and 2017, the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation and the department of Hawaiian home lands shall each submit to the legislature a report regarding the set-aside plan for upkeep and maintenance of the housing facilities to be constructed pursuant to this Act.

     SECTION 12.  The appropriations made in parts II and III of this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriations are made; provided that all moneys from the appropriations unencumbered as of June 30, 2018, shall lapse as of that date.

     SECTION 13.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.


 


 

Report Title:

Appropriation; Housing Omnibus; Affordable Housing

 

Description:

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds to several state agencies for the purposes of improving and increasing the existing public and affordable housing stock in the State.  Requires a report to the 2016 and 2017 legislature on the set-aside plan for upkeep and maintenance of the housing facilities to be constructed.  Takes effect on 7/1/2050.  (SD2)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.