Report Title:

Conveyance Tax; Disposition

Description:

Redistributes the Conveyance Tax revenues by reducing the amount designated to the Natural Area Reserve fund from 25% to 12-1/2% and dedicates 12-1/2% to the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii for programs for the homeless.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

629

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO CONVEYANCE TAX.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is research-based evidence that indicates homelessness can be solved rather than simply managed. Individuals who have mental illnesses, drug dependencies, and other problems can be successfully housed rather than warehoused or delegated to the streets only to be routinely displaced by our law officers. Part of the response to the solution is a consistent source of funds dedicated to the purpose of solving homelessness. Over the years, the problem has grown, the programs have grown, but the funding for the programs has eroded. The purpose of this Act is to secure a source of homeless assistance funds in order to implement the plan to provide permanent supportive housing for individuals and families who are homeless.

SECTION 2. Section 247-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§247-7 Disposition of taxes. All taxes collected under this chapter shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the general fund of the State, to be used and expended for the purposes for which the general fund was created and exists by law; provided that of the taxes collected each fiscal year[, twenty-five]:

(1) Twenty-five per cent shall be paid into the rental housing trust fund established by section 201G-432 [and twenty-five];

(2) Twelve and one-half per cent shall be paid into the natural area reserve fund established by section 195-9; provided that the funds paid into the natural area reserve fund shall be annually disbursed by the department of land and natural resources after joint consultation with the forest stewardship committee and the natural area reserves system commission in the following priority:

[(1)] (A) To natural area partnership and forest stewardship programs;

[(2)] (B) Projects undertaken in accordance with watershed management plans pursuant to section 171-58 or watershed management plans negotiated with private landowners; and

[(3)] (C) The youth conservation corps established under chapter 193[.]; and

(3) Twelve and one-half per cent shall be paid to the housing and community development corporation of Hawaii to provide homeless assistance services pursuant to chapter 201G, part IV."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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