STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1975

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     H.B. No. 476

        H.D. 1

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 476, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOUSING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit the advertising for rental purposes of certain housing units.

 

Specifically, this measure:

 

(1)  Prohibits advertising for rental purposes of public housing units and housing subject to an owner or renter occupancy requirement under chapters 201H, 206E, or 356D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and requires county police departments to enforce the prohibition; and

 

(2)  Excludes from the prohibition any state agency publicizing or advertising a housing program under chapters 201H, 206E, or 356D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and any county agency for a housing program under chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Public Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island, Inc.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the City and County of Honolulu Police Department and the Hawaii Association of Realtors.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure promotes fairness in housing opportunities by deterring those who are inclined to advertise for rental purposes certain restricted housing units or to violate the occupancy limitations of certain housing units.

 

     Your Committee notes that the change in penalties accomplished by this measure falls within the purview of the Committee on Judiciary.  Therefore, should the bill move to conference, your Committee recommends that further discussion regarding the measure include the Committee on Judiciary.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 476, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair