STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1951

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 699

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 699, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to evict a tenant convicted of a misdemeanor or felony committed during the term of the tenancy for an act related to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's property or funds or its employees and their property.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Americans for Democratic Action and the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's highest priorities include the safety and well-being of its tenants, employees, and properties.  When a tenant commits serious crimes related to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's property or funds, they abuse their privilege as a tenant, undermine the safety of law-abiding public housing tenants, and take away housing opportunities from other law-abiding families of the State's most disadvantaged populations.  Your Committee further finds, however, that evicting tenants who commit misdemeanors is overly broad and could result in an increased risk of homelessness for at-risk tenants.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by removing language authorizing the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to evict a tenant convicted of a misdemeanor committed during the term of the tenancy for an act related to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's property or funds or its employees and their property. 

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 699, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 699, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair