Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2139, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to increase the number of child subsidies available through the Preschools Open Doors Program (Program).

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children, Good Beginnings Alliance, Hawaii Kids Watch, and Blueprint for Change submitted testimony in support of the measure. The Department of Human Services supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee finds that the Program is very popular and enables many children to attend preschool who might not have been able to without a subsidy. Your Committee recognizes that in light of the economic downturn, additional subsidies would benefit families where one or both parents have lost their jobs.

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 S.B. No. 2139, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.