Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Education and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1018 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt private preschools and their programs that are part of a licensed elementary school from the licensing requirements imposed by the Department of Human Services.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, the Hawaii Council of Private Schools, and two individuals. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services, the Good Beginnings Alliance, and the Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children. Comments were received from the Hawaii Catholic Conference.

Your Committees find that many independent and private elementary schools are either accredited or licensed by the Hawaii Association for Independent Schools, the Hawaii Council of Private Schools, or other accrediting or licensing bodies, and are also licensed by the Department of Human Services. A single licensing or accreditation program apart from the Department of Human Services would be appealing, more efficient, and less bureaucratic when a private preschool and its programs are part of a licensed elementary school.

Your Committees have amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2010, to encourage more discussion on this topic.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Education and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1018, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1018, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.