Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1584 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to statutorily establish the Pre-Plus early childhood education program within the Department of Human Services, and to provide funding for the 2003-2004 fiscal year to continue the program.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Good Beginnings Alliance. Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that there are approximately 47,000 children in Hawaii between three and five years of age, who could benefit from preschool programs. The current enrollment capacity of center-based programs for this age group is about 19,699 statewide. According to the Good Beginnings Alliance, center-based early education programs are operating at about ninety-two per cent of their enrollment capacity. Strong demand and limited supply keeps the cost of many preschool programs high. Families with fixed or lower incomes, in particular, may find the cost of quality early education programs to be prohibitive, and as a result, young children may be denied the benefits of early childhood education.

Recognizing the importance of quality early childhood education programs to a child's development, the Legislature, in Act 259, Session Laws of Hawaii 2001, established the Pre-Plus program to expand access to affordable, convenient, quality early childhood education programs by children from lower-income households. The Pre-Plus program utilizes public-private partnerships to create center-based preschool programs on public school campuses in communities statewide. Thirteen Pre-Plus facilities are currently under construction at thirteen elementary school campuses statewide, and ten more Pre-Plus facilities are in the planning and design stage.

Your Committee finds that the Pre-Plus program is currently budgeted under the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; however, one budgeted program staff position, with the informal responsibility to oversee the program, was transferred to the Department of Human Services in November 2002. The Department is willing to accept the oversight of the Pre-Plus program; provided that there is proper support for program development. Accordingly, your Committee has revised this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1584, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1584, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.