STAND. COM. REP. NO. 327

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 818

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 818 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VACANT AND ABANDONED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require counties to establish expedited procedures to approve demolition permits for vacant and abandoned residential homes; and

 

     (2)  Allow the Department of Taxation to seek sale of the property through nonjudicial foreclosure of vacant and abandoned residential properties with outstanding recorded state tax liens at any time after establishing vacancy and abandonment.

 

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation, City and County of Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that abandoned residential properties can impose significant costs on the community and become public safety hazards and magnets for criminal activity.  Your Committee further finds that it is in the public's interest to encourage the use of residential properties and reduce the number of vacant and abandoned homes in the State.  This measure will reduce the potential hazards associated with vacant and abandoned residential properties and ensure that they are promptly removed from Hawaii communities.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 818 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair