STAND. COM. REP. NO. 719

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 289

       S.D. 2

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 289, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support families by:

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

          (A)  Cover twenty-five per cent of its costs through fees, grants, private donations, and other sources, beginning on July 1, 2013; and

          (B)  Transition into a greater statewide role to provide training resources for parents of young children, school personnel, and families;

     (2)  Requiring the Program to report its plan to the Legislature and the Governor prior to the 2012 Regular Session; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds for the Program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Dee Jay Mailer, Chief Executive Officer of Kamehameha Schools & Vice Chair of the Early Learning Council; and Dr. Robert Peters, Chair, Early Learning Council.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from Linda Elento.

     Your Committee finds that the Program is a school-based teacher training and child development program that provides resources for families and parents of young children.  This measure seeks to ensure the continued viability of the program through the appropriation of funds and by requiring the development of alternate sources of program revenue.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the percentages relating to the amount of program costs that the Families for R.E.A.L. Program must cover to unspecified percentages;

     (2)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

     (3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on the measure; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 289, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 289, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair