HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2491

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that neglect and disrepair continue to plague state public housing projects, and believes that, especially during the current economic crisis, housing residents must take a more active role in reducing maintenance costs by properly caring for their housing units.

The purpose of this Act is to encourage housing residents to play a more active role in maintaining their housing project by holding housing residents directly responsible for damages caused to a housing unit or common areas by the resident.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 356D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§356D‑     Common area expenses; reimbursement for damages.  (a)  If any common area expense is caused by the misconduct of any unit resident, the authority may assess the cost of that expense exclusively against that unit resident.

     (b)  The authority shall seek reimbursement from a unit resident for the full cost of any damages to a unit caused by the unit resident."

     SECTION 3.  Section 356D-42, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§356D-42[]Housing; tenant selection.  Subject to the following limitations and preferences, the authority shall select tenants [upon the basis of those in greatest need] for the particular housing.  The authority may limit the tenants of any state low-income housing project to classes of persons when required by federal law or regulation as a term or condition of obtaining assistance from the federal government[.  Within the priorities established by the authority recognizing need], including veterans with a permanent disability of ten per cent or more as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the dependent parents of the veteran, and the deceased veteran's widow, who shall be given first preference."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.



 

 

Report Title:

Public Housing; Common Area Assessment

 

Description:

Allows the Authority to charge a tenant for a common area expense caused by the tenant and requires the Authority to seek reimbursement for any damage to a public housing unit caused by a tenant.  Also deletes references to a prospective tenant's need with respect to tenant selection procedures.  (HB2491 HD1)

 

 

 

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