STAND. COM. REP. NO. 605

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1715

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1715 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CHILD CARE FACILITY AND PRESCHOOL BY SEAGULL SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for a grant to Seagull Schools for the construction of a childcare facility and a preschool in Ko Olina.

     Seagull Schools submitted testimony in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that Seagull Schools has become one of the State's largest childcare providers, serving approximately eight hundred thirty children of mixed socio-economic backgrounds.  The school's child development programs are known for their exceptional ability to provide quality care and early education at affordable rates that meet the needs of working parents.  Besides having fees that are among the lowest in the State, the school also provides generous financial aid to low-income families for tuition assistance.

     In 1999, Seagull Schools began working with the owners of the Ko Olina Resort to develop a childcare center and a preschool that would provide services to Waianae coast children and children of employees that work at the resort.  A capital campaign was implemented and received funding from many sources, including a grant from the State of $1,000,000, which was then used to architecturally design both centers and complete the construction of the Ewa Beach childcare center.  However, additional funding is necessary for the construction of the educational facilities.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1715 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services and Public Housing,

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SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair