Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2139 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to enhance early childhood education provided through the Preschools Open Doors Program.

Your Committee finds that numerous studies have emphasized the importance of early childhood education on the overall development of a child and as an indicator of a child's later success. Early childhood education, however, is not always available, especially during times of economic uncertainty.

This bill provides the necessary funds to increase the number of child care subsidies available through the Preschools Open Doors Program to thereby address the early childhood education needs of the community.

Your Committee has amended the bill by changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount in order to promote further discussion on this matter, and by making technical changes that have no substantive effect.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2139, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2139, S.D. 1.