STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1583

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 1084

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1084, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 1, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO PERMIT THE APPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PRIVATE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that Hawaii's children receive the early foundation and support necessary to avoid remedial training and achieve success in their future educational endeavors by proposing an amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution to permit the appropriation of public funds for private early childhood education programs.

The Governor, Department of Health, Department of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services, Department of Public Safety, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Human Resources Development, University of Hawaii, State Adjutant General, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Child & Family Service, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children, Early Learning Advisory Board, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Construction Alliance, Good Beginnings Alliance, Hawaii Business Roundtable, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Partners in Development Foundation, Hawaii Pacific Health, The Pacific Resource Partnership, IMUA Alliance, Hawaii P-20, Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, Young Democrats of Hawaii, First Insurance Company of Hawaii, Atherton Family Foundation, Colliers International-Hawaii, an Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee representing Kauai and Niihau, and over one hundred and fifty concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association and several concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Education, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Catholic Conference, Hawaii Catholic Schools, American Civil Liberties Union, Hawaii Baptist Early Education Association, Faith Based Early Learning Coalition, and a concerned individual provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1084, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair