1. (a) The authority shall adopt rules, without regard to chapter 91, to establish the following incentives for landlords participating in the tenant-based assistance housing choice voucher program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f):

   1. (1) The landlord may be reimbursed up to one month of rent at the contract rate when the dwelling unit sits vacant:

      1. (A) Between rentals to tenants participating in the section 8 housing choice voucher program; or
      2. (B) When the landlord initially transitions the dwelling unit to a rental under the section 8 housing choice voucher program; and
   2. (2) The landlord may receive a signing bonus of up to one month of rent at the contract rate when the landlord first joins the section 8 housing choice voucher program by entering into a contract with the authority and securing a tenant participating in the section 8 housing choice voucher program for the dwelling unit; provided that a landlord receiving the signing bonus shall not also receive reimbursement under paragraph (1)(B).
2. (b) The incentives in subsection (a) shall supplement the incentive offered under the section 8 housing choice voucher landlord incentive program established pursuant to Act 215, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, to reimburse landlords who participate in the section 8 housing choice voucher landlord incentive program for repair costs of tenant-caused property damage when the repair costs exceed the tenant's security deposit.

3. (c) The following requirements shall apply to the reimbursement for repair costs:

   1. (1) The landlord shall submit a claim to the authority within thirty calendar days of the tenant vacating the dwelling unit;
   2. (2) The authority may reimburse the landlord up to an amount to be determined by the authority for verified costs to repair the tenant-caused property damage, subject to availability of funding; provided that the costs of repair shall exceed the security deposit; and
   3. (3) Claims that exceed an amount to be determined by the authority shall include an estimate from a licensed contractor setting forth the costs to repair the damages caused by the tenant to the dwelling unit.

[L 2022, c 287, §2]