STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1330

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1937

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1937, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Human Services (DHS), using Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funds, to establish a Micro-credit Pilot Program to provide loans to qualified low-income individuals.

     DHS and 3Point testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development supported the intent of this measure.

     DHS estimates approximately $300,000 will be needed to contract for services to research micro-credit programs, make recommendations on the establishment of such a program, and to develop an implementation plan.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Allowing DHS until July 1, 2008, to implement a micro-credit pilot program;

     (2)  Allowing DHS to contract for services related to the development and implementation of a micro-credit program;

     (3)  Specifying that the interim report from DHS include research, evaluation, and best practices, as well as recommendations for the implementation of a micro-credit program, and that the final report include DHS's progress on implementing the program; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1937, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1937, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MAILE SHIMABUKURO, Chair