STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1487_______

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 169
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.C.R. No. 169 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE USE OF
     INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to show support
for Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) as an effective and
important asset-building mechanism by requesting the Department
of Human Services (DHS), the Housing and Community Development
Corporation of Hawaii, and the Department of Business, Economic
Development, and Tourism, to:

     (1)  Collaborate with IDA practitioners and support
          organizations in developing IDAs in the State; and

     (2)  Disregard IDAs in determining benefits or eligibility
          for services that account holders may receive from
          state agencies.

     DHS, the House and Community Development Corporation of
Hawaii, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Department of
Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Legal Aid
Society of Hawaii, Parents and Children Together, Bank of Hawaii,
Waimanalo Community Development Corporation, Nanakuli
Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., the Hawaii State Commission
on the Status of Women, the Hawaii Area Program of the American
Friends Service Committee, and several individuals testified in
support of this concurrent resolution.  

 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1487_______
                                 Page 2

 

     Your Committee recognizes the importance of IDAs in helping
low-income individuals and their families save part of their
income for future use toward such investments as a post-secondary
education, a first-time home purchase, or a business start-up.
Your Committee notes that IDAs have been beneficial in
transitioning low-income families toward financial self-
sufficiency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Human Services and Housing that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
H.C.R. No. 169 and recommends that it be referred to the
Committee on Finance.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Human Services
                                   and Housing,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair