Bill Text: HI HB680 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 680

Amended

Bill Title: Relating To The Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [HB680 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB680-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	680
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that much of the State's aging public housing stock has fallen into disrepair. Without adequate reinvestment, deteriorating structural conditions can worsen and pose significant risks to many low-income families who need or already receive housing assistance. The legislature also finds that public housing vacancies have hindered the State's efforts to expand affordable housing availability at a time when it is most desperately needed.

The legislature further finds that the Hawaii public housing authority is responsible for administering a federal and state low-income public housing program. With properties statewide, the Hawaii public housing authority manages approximately 6,270 units of public housing throughout the State. The Hawaii public housing authority estimates that there are currently three hundred dwelling units lying vacant because they require extensive capital repairs.

The legislature additionally finds that a significant majority of Hawaii's public housing residents have household incomes of less than thirty per cent of the applicable area median income, with few exceptions. Local demand for affordable rental units continues to greatly outpace the construction of any new supply. The legislature notes that housing developers often struggle to make such projects pencil out. Many housing developers also find projects completely cost-prohibitive. As such, the legislature believes repairing vacant public housing units offers a partial, yet straightforward solution to easing Hawaii's affordable housing crisis. The Hawaii public housing authority anticipates that these vacant units could be made habitable again in as quickly as eighteen months.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to repair and improve the quality of the State's existing public housing in order to expand affordable housing opportunities for Hawaii's most disadvantaged families.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the Hawaii public housing authority to contract out; without regard to chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes; for the repair, renovation, improvements, and maintenance of federal and state low-income public housing units from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii public housing authority for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. The Hawaii public housing authority shall submit reports of completed and pending projects, and the timeframe or timeline of each project, funded under this Act to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2024 and 2025.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Rehabilitation; Dwelling Units; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii public housing authority for the repair, renovation, improvements, and maintenance of dwelling units at federal and state low-income public housing projects. Requires the Hawaii public housing authority to submit reports regarding completed and pending projects. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.