Bill Text: HI SB256 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Down Payments.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB256 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB256-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
256 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to down payments.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the size of the State's population is declining. The United States Census Bureau estimated that in fiscal year 2020-2021, Hawaii lost 10,358 residents. People who move away from Hawaii often cite the State's high cost of living as the deciding factor for their move.
The legislature also finds that the relocation of individuals and families out of Hawaii causes economic, social, and cultural burdens for the State. The lack of frequent physical contact with family members can be traumatic, disruptive, and fragmenting to ohana. This erosion of kinship support networks among existing residents can profoundly impact the decisions of younger generations as to whether they can afford to start a family, given their legitimate concerns over their financial ability to feed, clothe, and educate their future offspring.
The legislature further finds that many individuals who leave the State are among the most skilled and educated members of the workforce, due to these individuals having the necessary qualifications for highly desirable career opportunities in the mainland United States. Failing to act to stem this loss will only endanger Hawaii's economic future.
Additionally, the legislature finds that the problem of home affordability is not limited to former Hawaii residents who wish to return. Residents who choose to remain in the State are faced with single-family home prices that are significantly higher than those of most other cities in the United States. For example, Hawaii News Now reported in June 2022 that the median sale price of a single-family home on Oahu was $1,153,500 in May 2022. Moreover, the legislature finds that high home prices, combined with the State's high cost of living, are significant factors that compel many Hawaii residents to leave the State. Clearly, decisive action must be taken now to slow this out-migration.
The purpose of this Act is to ease the burden of Hawaii's high cost of living for current residents and encourage former Hawaii residents to return to the State by establishing a program to assist qualifying individuals with down payments for the purchase of a primary residence.
SECTION 2. Chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§201H-A Current and returning resident down payment program; established. (a) There is established the current and returning resident down payment program, to be administered by the corporation. The program shall encourage former Hawaii residents to return to Hawaii, and assist current Hawaii residents in coping with the State's high cost of living, by awarding grants to assist with the down payment for the purchase of a primary residence that shall be a single family residence.
(b)
Subject to available funds, the current
and returning resident down payment program shall award grants of up to one
dollar for each dollar of down payment made by a qualified applicant; provided
that the total award to an applicant shall not exceed the lesser
of:
(1) Ten
per cent of the value of the single family residence to be purchased; or
(2) $50,000.
(c) To be eligible for an award under the current and returning resident down payment program, an applicant shall:
(1) Have earned a high school diploma
from a high school located in the State;
(2) In the case of a former resident,
have ceased residency in the State for the purpose of attending a four-year
course of study leading to a baccalaureate degree at a college or university
accredited by the United States Department of Education or other entity
recognized by the corporation;
(3) Use the award to make a down payment
for the purchase of a single family residence, as defined in section 521-8; and
(4) Be a resident of the State, or a
former resident of the State, who satisfies the requirements of paragraphs (1)
and (2) as applicable, represent that the applicant will be an owner-occupant
of the residence to be purchased pursuant to paragraph (3), and own no other
interest in real property within or without the State.
(d) Any applicant who has received an award and fails to satisfy the requirements of subsection (c)(4) shall repay the award plus interest at the rate of eight per cent.
§201H-B Current and returning resident down payment special fund. (a) There is established in the state treasury the current and returning resident down payment special fund, into which shall be deposited the following moneys:
(1) Appropriations made by the
legislature to the special fund; and
(2) Repayments to the fund made pursuant
to section 201H‑A(d).
(b) Funds in the special fund shall be used for
the purposes of the current and returning resident down payment program."
SECTION 3. 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 deposit into the current and returning resident down payment special fund.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the current and returning resident down payment special fund 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 current and returning resident down payment program.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii housing finance and development corporation for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.
SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
HHFDC; Current and Returning Resident Down Payment Program; Special Fund; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation a current and returning resident down payment program to provide matching funds for the down payment on a primary residence. Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
