HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

718

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§201H-    Infrastructure program.  (a)  There is established within the corporation an infrastructure program.  The program shall have the authority to:

     (1)  Make grants in its discretion to counties for design, construction, building, land acquisition, rehabilitation, repair, and other improvements to publicly-owned infrastructure, including but not limited to sewers, utility extensions, streets, roads, curb cuts, parking, water treatment systems, telecommunications systems, transit improvements, and pedestrian and bicycle ways;

     (2)  Make grants in its discretion for commercial and residential transportation and infrastructure development, improvements, and various capital investment projects;

     (3)  Make grants in its discretion to match other public and private funding sources to build or rehabilitate transit-oriented housing located within one-quarter-mile of a bus transit station or ferry terminal or one-half mile of a rail transit station; provided that at least fifty per cent of such housing shall be affordable housing.  As used in this paragraph, "affordable housing" means the same as defined under section 201H-57; and

     (4)  Assist counties in developing and advancing projects that support job creation and expansion, housing developments and rehabilitation, community development, and small-town transportation projects; provided that projects supporting smart growth as defined by the State's sustainable development principles shall be preferred.

     (b)  Grants made pursuant to this section shall only be for projects affecting publicly-owned infrastructure located on public land.  Projects using grants made pursuant to this section shall be procured by a county.

     (c)  The corporation shall provide at least one open solicitation period every year to accept and consider grant applications.  Not less than twelve weeks before each open solicitation period, the corporation shall release to the public the criteria for the acceptance of applications.  The criteria shall include the following:

     (1)  A minimum project readiness standard;

     (2)  Overall spending targets by project type;

     (3)  Preferences for projects that adopt the State's sustainable development principles; and

     (4)  Any other preferences or criteria the corporation deems necessary or desirable.

Grants may be made outside of the open solicitation period at the discretion of the executive director.  The corporation shall consult with the appropriate regional planning agency prior to making a grant.

     (d)  An eligible county, acting by and through its officers or by and through any agency designated by county officers to act on their behalf, may apply for a grant in a specific amount to fund a specified project.  Two or more counties may apply jointly with one county acting as fiscal agent or through a regional planning agency acting as fiscal agent.  Grants made under this section may be in addition to other forms of local, state, and federal assistance received by the county.

     (e)  The executive director shall establish rules in accordance with chapter 91 to govern the application for and approval of grants under the program.  The rules shall include provisions for joint applications by two or more eligible counties for a single project serving those counties.

     (f)  The executive director shall include in its annual report to the legislature, pursuant to section 201H-21(3), the activities and status of the program.  The report shall include a list and description of all projects that received grant funds under the program and for each project shall provide the following information:

     (1)  The amount of the grant received;

     (2)  Any other sources of public funds that supported the project;

     (3)  A detailed analysis of the economic impact of the project including, where applicable, the number of construction and full-time equivalent jobs to be created, number of housing units to be created, and identification of any private investment in the project; and

     (4)  Tax revenues expected to be generated from the project."

     SECTION 2.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation; Infrastructure Program; Grants to Counties

 

Description:

Establishes an infrastructure program within the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation to make grants and provide assistance to counties for infrastructure projects on public land.  Requires the executive director of the corporation to adopt rules pertaining to the application for and approval of grants.

 

 

 

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