Bill Text: HI SB11 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Housing Accountability.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-12-10 - Carried over to 2022 Regular Session. [SB11 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SB11-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
11 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to housing accountability.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Hawaii Housing Accountability Act.
SECTION 2. Section 226-19, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§226-19 Objectives and policies for socio-cultural advancement--housing. (a) Planning for the State's socio-cultural advancement with regard to housing shall be directed toward the achievement of the following objectives:
(1) Greater
opportunities for Hawaii's people to secure reasonably priced, safe, sanitary,
and livable homes, located in suitable environments that satisfactorily
accommodate the needs and desires of families and individuals, through collaboration
and cooperation between government and nonprofit and for-profit developers to
ensure that more rental and for sale affordable housing is made available to
extremely low‑, very low-, lower-, moderate-, and above moderate-income
segments of Hawaii's population[.];
(2) The orderly
development of residential areas sensitive to community needs and other land
uses[.]; and
(3) The development and provision of affordable rental housing by the State to meet the housing needs of Hawaii's people.
(b) To achieve the housing objectives, it shall be the policy of this State to:
(1) Effectively
accommodate the housing needs of Hawaii's people[.];
(2) Stimulate and
promote feasible approaches that increase affordable rental and for sale
housing choices for extremely low-, very low-, lower-, moderate-, and above
moderate-income households[.];
(3) Increase
homeownership and rental opportunities and choices in terms of quality,
location, cost, densities, style, and size of housing[.];
(4) Promote
appropriate improvement, rehabilitation, and maintenance of existing rental and
for sale housing units and residential areas[.];
(5) Promote design and
location of housing developments taking into account the physical setting,
accessibility to public facilities and services, and other concerns of existing
communities and surrounding areas[.];
(6) Facilitate the use
of available vacant, developable, and underutilized urban lands for housing[.];
(7) Foster a variety
of lifestyles traditional to Hawaii through the design and maintenance of
neighborhoods that reflect the culture and values of the community[.];
and
(8) Promote research and development of methods to reduce the cost of housing construction in Hawaii.
(c) Any person or agency may commence a civil action
in the circuit court of the circuit in which the person resides alleging that the
State:
(1) Is not in compliance
with one or more of the objectives, policies, and guidelines provided or authorized
by this section;
(2) Has failed to perform
any act or duty required to be performed under this section; or
(3) In exercising any
duty required to be performed under this section, has not complied with the provisions
of this section.
If damages are awarded pursuant to this subsection,
the court may, in its discretion, impose a civil fine of not more than $1,000 to
be paid to the plaintiff.
A party seeking civil damages under
this section shall have the burden of proving a violation by a preponderance of
the evidence.
For the purpose of this section, "person"
includes a natural or legal person."
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.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Private Right of Action; Affordable Housing
Description:
Allows a private right of action against the State for a failure to comply with certain housing objectives.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
