HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

154

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO RESEARCH OPTIONS for establishing a dedicated funding mechanism to IMPLEMENT THE PUBLIC PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS SPECIFIED IN ACT 77, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 1997, RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE.

 

WHEREAS, Act 77, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, recognized a public and private partnership between the State and a private nonprofit corporation created as a focal point for policy development and dedicated to enhancing, developing, and coordinating quality early childhood education and care services; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature intended Act 77 to authorize a sustainable, effective, participatory coordinating structure that cuts across existing social service systems to coordinate early childhood services for families with young children; and

WHEREAS, Act 77:

(1) Set conditions for a nonprofit corporation to receive public funds;

(2) Required that the nonprofit corporation be governed by a board of directors;

(3) Required the corporation to oversee the establishment of not less than four community councils representing each county;

(4) Established an interdepartmental council consisting of the:

(A) Superintendent of Education;

(B) Director of Human Services;

(C) Director of Health;

(D) Director of Labor and Industrial Relations;

(E) Governor's special assistant for children and youth; and

(F) Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

and

WHEREAS, Act 60, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, added one member from the general business community and one member from the general philanthropic community to the interdepartmental council; and

WHEREAS, Act 77 requires the interdepartmental council and the nonprofit corporation to jointly review and approve the community plan presented by a community council and determine funding levels for each community council. The interdepartmental council then suggests the disbursement of public funds through the appropriate departments represented on the council; and

WHEREAS, since 1997, the nonprofit corporation has been charged with the responsibility to improve early childhood outcomes through the development of quality early childhood education and care and related family support services. Specifically, the nonprofit corporation develops policy recommendations concerning all aspects of a coordinated early childhood education and care system, including coordination strategies, resource development, and advocacy; and

WHEREAS, according to Act 77 the role of the nonprofit corporation is to function as:

(1) The critical link for early childhood system development;

(2) The focal point for public education regarding the importance of quality early childhood experiences; and

(3) The facilitator for collaboration among public and private agencies and communities to maintain focus on Hawaii's goals to improve positive outcomes for young children and their families;

and

WHEREAS, it is proposed that a mechanism be developed for dedicated funding to implement the public purpose and responsibilities as specified in Act 77, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature may not appropriate funds directly to a private nonprofit as if it were a state agency and it is proposed that dedicated funding be awarded through a contractual process to the nonprofit that best demonstrates past achievement and future ability to accomplish the purpose and responsibilities specified in Act 77, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, and which is to be held accountable for the achievement of agreed upon outcomes; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the Senate concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to research options for establishing a dedicated funding mechanism to implement the public purpose and responsibilities as specified in Act 77, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, relating to early childhood education and care; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2004; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, the members of the Board of Directors of the Good Beginnings Alliance, and the Governor's

Office who, in turn, is requested to transmit copies to the members of the interdepartmental council.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Early Childhood Education and Care; Good Beginnings Alliance