Report Title:
County Permitting Process; Affordable Housing; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds to enable the counties to hire additional staff to expedite the permitting process for affordable housing projects.
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2326 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
MAKING AN URGENT APPROPRIATION FOR county permitting PROCESS OPERATIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is an critical need for more affordable housing in the State of Hawaii. According to a November, 2003 media report, the number of people living in Hawaii's public parks, beaches, and streets has increased by sixty-one per cent in the last three years. Another report states that while census data indicates that the increase in new housing has outpaced the State's population growth rate, the need for new homes still exceeds demand. Further, despite the growth in home sales and construction in Hawaii, the State's supply of affordable homes and rentals is shrinking, causing increasing concern among state and county officials.
The legislature further finds that one of the barriers to developing affordable housing in the State is the lengthy and cumbersome permitting process, and that there is an urgent need for enhanced staffing of county permitting operations to avoid delays in the construction of affordable housing. Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of human services to provide, upon request by the counties, funding for additional permitting personnel.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, to the department of human services to enable the department, upon request, to distribute funds to the counties for the hiring of additional personnel to process permit applications for affordable housing projects; provided that:
(1) The housing and community development corporation of Hawaii shall establish requirements for the counties' application for the funds; and
(2) No more than $250,000 may be distributed to each county.
SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.
INTRODUCED BY: |
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