STAND. COM. REP. NO.  498

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 864

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 864, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assist families in establishing a solid educational foundation for their children by establishing a statewide Early Childhood Education Program upon ratification of a proposed amendment to Article X, Section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution which would permit the appropriation of public funds for private early childhood education programs.

Governor Neil Abercrombie, the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Department of Public Safety, University of Hawaii, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Aloha United Way, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Child & Family Service, Good Beginnings Alliance, Friends of the Children's Justice Center of Maui, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Hui For Excellence in Education, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and numerous concerned individuals submitted testimony in support.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association and a few concerned individuals submitted testimony in opposition.  The ‘Aha Pūnana Leo and IMUAlliance offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Including in Section 1 a reference to House Bill 853 (2013) that proposes to amend Article X, Section 1 of the Hawaii State Constitution; and

     (2)  Clarifying that the Executive Office on Early Learning may contract with private providers of early childhood education for the Early Childhood Education Program by recognizing these providers as "eligible providers".

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 864, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 864, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair