Bill Text: HI SB734 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Special Master; Appropriation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [SB734 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB734-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 168

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 734

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 734 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish a special master and an advisory council to develop a comprehensive plan to assist the Hawaii Public Housing Authority in resolving the health and safety violations at public housing projects statewide, and to appropriate funds from the public housing revolving fund.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by one private organization.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by two state agencies.

 

     Your Committee has heard that this measure would seemingly create a dual line of authority over a broad range of issues, including health and safety violations, at public housing projects.  In addition, testimony pointed to two actions that were recently filed against the Hawaii Public Housing Authority alleging various claims related to health and safety violations at Kuhio Park Terrace and Kuhio Homes against, among others, the Authority.

 

     Your Committee believes that given past instances of state agencies that were not meeting their obligations under state and federal laws, there is a very real possibility that the courts may appoint a special master to assist in resolving the violations raised in the federal and state class action lawsuits.  Rather than waiting for that possibility to occur, this measure takes a proactive approach to assisting the Authority in meeting its obligations.

 

     Your Committee further notes that the Chair requested and was willing to consider amendments to address the concerns raised, but no amendments were presented.  Your Committee believes this measure offers a timely alternative to a court-ordered special master and urges its continued discussion by all parties involved.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 734 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education and Housing,

 

		____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair