STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1176

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   S.B. No. 926

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 926, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds for various early childhood development and school readiness programs and services, including:

     (1)  The Baby S.A.F.E. (Substance Abuse Free Environment) Program;

     (2)  Hawaii's Healthy Start Program;

     (3)  Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder services;

     (4)  Family planning services;

     (5)  Early intervention services;

     (6)  Perinatal health programs;

     (7)  Parenting support programs;

     (8)  The Preschool Developmental Screening Program;

     (9) The Keiki Care Project;

    (10) Child care and preschool subsidies; and

    (11) The Preschool Open Doors Program.

     The Department of Health, Child & Family Service, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hawaii Family Support Institute, and Early Learning Council testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Human Services and Hawaii State Teachers Association supported the intent of this measure.  The Good Beginnings Alliance provided comments.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

     (1)  Requiring that higher priority with regard to procurement be given for projects where non-state funding is secured; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 926, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 926, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services,

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair