STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1103

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 289

      S.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 289, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to continue to support early child development and parent education in a fiscally responsible manner by:

     (1)  Requiring the Families for R.E.A.L. Program to develop a plan:

          (A)  To cover an unspecified percent of its program costs beginning July 1, 2013; and

          (B)  That includes a strategy to transition the Families for R.E.A.L. Program into assuming a larger statewide role;

     (2)  Requiring any appropriation for the Families for R.E.A.L. Program to be matched with private funds at an unspecified ratio; and

     (3)  Making an appropriation in an unspecified amount for the Families for R.E.A.L. Program.

     The Early Learning Council, Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children, Families for R.E.A.L. Program, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Department of Education provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 289, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair