Relating To The Hawaii Public Housing Authority.
HB1094 amends Chapter 356D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to create a new procedure for the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) to handle property that is abandoned or seized in or around public housing projects. The bill authorizes HPHA to sell, donate, or otherwise dispose of such property, but only after providing notice to the owner when the owner is known or can be determined, or by posting notice on the premises when the owner is unknown. For property valued at $500 or more per item, HPHA must also provide public notice and conduct a public auction by oral offers in the county where the property was found, unless no bid is received. Property valued below $500 per item may be disposed of without public notice or auction.
The bill also establishes a process for an owner or other entitled person to reclaim the property before disposition by proving entitlement and paying unpaid rent, debts, charges, fines, and related handling and storage costs, with storage fees set at no less than $25 per day. Sale proceeds are applied first to amounts owed to the State, and any remaining funds are held in trust for 30 days before being deposited into HPHA’s special fund. The measure includes a liability shield for the State and its officers, employees, and agents for actions taken under the new section. The effective date is July 1, 3000, which appears to function as a placeholder date rather than an operative near-term implementation date.
HB1094 would add a new statutory section to Chapter 356D governing the disposition of abandoned or seized personal property in federal public housing projects administered by HPHA. It would give HPHA explicit authority to dispose of such property and set out notice, auction, redemption, and proceeds-handling requirements, thereby creating a formal state-law framework where one is not otherwise specified in the bill text. The measure would affect HPHA operations, residents, former residents, and any other persons claiming ownership of property left in public housing areas, while also limiting potential liability for the State and its agents.
The bill text and available context suggest a generally administrative, noncontroversial purpose: giving HPHA a clearer process for dealing with abandoned or seized property and protecting the agency’s ability to clear and manage public housing premises. No committee transcripts or recorded votes are provided, so there is no documented opposition or support in the supplied materials. The overall tone of the measure is procedural and operational rather than ideological.
The main potential points of contention are the property-owner protections versus HPHA’s enforcement and cleanup authority. Owners may be concerned about the short five-day notice period, the $25-per-day minimum storage fee, the requirement to pay all debts and charges before reclaiming property, and the agency’s discretion to determine value and dispose of items under $500 without public auction. On the other hand, HPHA and housing administrators may favor the bill because it provides a clear mechanism to remove abandoned property, recover costs, and reduce administrative burdens in public housing projects.