STAND. COM. REP. NO. 944

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1009

       H.D. 3

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 1009, H.D. 3, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LANDLORD TENANT CODE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt residence or occupancy in a structure or on a property directly controlled by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority from the requirements of the residential landlord-tenant code.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Association of REALTORS.

 

     Your Committee finds that existing exemptions to the landlord-tenant code for public housing projects or complexes controlled, owned, or managed by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority pursuant to the federal Low Rent Public Housing Program result in eighty-six percent of Hawaii Public Housing Authority properties being exempt from the code.  Your Committee further finds that, pursuant to federal rules, the Authority complies with strict requirements when handling tenant issues and evictions, including adherence to board hearings and peer review prior to decision making.  This measure will provide an exemption from the landlord-tenant code for the remaining fourteen percent of Hawaii Public Housing Authority properties, allowing for greater equality between those in federal and state public housing and ensuring that all tenants receive the same due process regardless of the property in which they reside.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1009, H.D. 3, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

 

 

 

________________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair