SB 338 Summary

• Creates a new Department of Housing headed by a director, responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing affordable housing development and preservation statewide.

• Transfers four agencies to the Department of Housing for administrative purposes: Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Hawaii Community Development Authority, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

• Removes these four agencies from their current departments (Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Human Services) and establishes the Department of Housing as the 20th principal state department.

• Transfers all employees, civil service status, records, equipment, appropriations, and contracts related to the transferred agencies to the Department of Housing while preserving employee benefits and seniority.

• Effective date is July 1, 2023, with authority to amend statutory references to reflect the transfers effective January 1, 2024.