STAND. COM. REP. NO. 309-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 536
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was
referred H.B. No. 536, H.D. 1, entitled: 

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to enhance and develop early
childhood education and care services by:

     (1)  Making the Good Beginnings Alliance (GBA) a permanent
          coordinating structure; and

     (2)  Establishing the Governor's Commission on Early
          Childhood Education and Care (Commission).

     The Hawaii Family Support Center, the Hawaii Chapter of the
American Academy of Pediatrics, the Hawaii Association for the
Education of Young Children, the Center for Disabilities Studies,
Kauai Independent Daycare Services, and People Attentive to
Children testified in support of this measure.  One individual
supported this measure with amendments.  The Department of
Education testified in support of the intent of this measure.
The Department of Health testified in opposition to the
establishment of the Commission.  The Governor's Office opposed
this measure.  GBA and one individual submitted comments.

     Your Committee finds that GBA is truly the link and focal
point for policy development, disbursement of public funds, and
implementation of early childhood community plans, and believes

 
 
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that through GBA, the Legislature will be able to continue to
monitor the development of a coordinated system that is dedicated
to enhancing and developing early childhood education and care
services.

     Your Committee would like to see early childhood education
and care and quality child care elevated as a priority for the
State, and is counting on GBA to achieve this goal.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Extending the life of GBA to 2010, thereby allowing GBA
          to maintain flexibility to address the Board of
          Directors (Board) and Interdepartmental Council
          (Council) membership according to current needs and
          areas of focus, as well as periodically provide an
          ongoing avenue for necessary dialogue and interaction;

     (2)  Deleting the Commission;

     (3)  Expanding the representation of the Council by adding
          representatives from the business and philanthropic
          communities;

     (4)  Expanding the membership of the Board by adding members
          from the University of Hawaii, the American Academy of
          Pediatrics, the early intervention community, an early
          childhood resource and referral agency, and Head Start;
          and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 536, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No.
536, H.D. 2, and 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