STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1585

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 1095

      S.D. 2

      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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1095, S.D. 2, 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 improve educational outcomes in the State by providing a comprehensive structure for the delivery of early childhood education.  Specifically, this measure establishes the Early Childhood Education Program to prepare young children for school and provide them with access to high-quality early childhood education that addresses their physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development.

The Governor, Department of Education, Department of Public Safety, Department of Human Resources Development, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Human Services, University of Hawaii, State Adjutant General, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Construction Alliance, PHOCUSED, Hawaii Business Roundtable, Partners in Development Foundation, The Pacific Resource Partnership, Hawaii P-20, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hawaii Pacific Health, Aloha United Way, Child & Family Service, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Good Beginnings Alliance, Colliers International – Hawaii, Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture, Young Democrats of Hawaii, Atherton Family Foundation, First Insurance Company of Hawaii, an Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee representing Kauai and Niihau, and over two hundred concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Hawaii Catholic Conference, Hawaii Catholic Schools, and Hawaii Family Forum opposed this measure.  The Department of Health, Hawaii Teacher Standards Board, American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, IMUA Alliance, Teacher Education Coordinating Committee, ‘Aha Pūnana Leo, Pūnana Leo o Mānoa, Hawaii Baptist Early Education Association, Faith Based Early Learning Coalition, Hawai‘i Bilingual/Hawaii Ōlelo Pālua, Kuhina Nui Ka‘ahumanu Hawaiian Civic Club, and over one hundred and fifty concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the Early Childhood Education Program will prepare children for school and to actively participate in society through either of the state's two official languages;

     (2)  Clarifying that the Early Childhood Education Program will provide equitable access to high-quality early childhood education;

     (3)  Clarifying that it is a legal guardian who may be responsible for the required copayment to participate in the Early Childhood Education Program;

     (4)  Clarifying that eligible providers must meet or develop plans to meet Hawaiian or English language medium education standards, as applicable;

     (5)  Specifying that eligible providers must comply with all applicable state and federal laws;

     (6)  Requiring the Executive Office on Early Learning to adopt rules concerning compliance with all applicable state and federal laws;

     (7)  Including a definition of "early childhood education program" in Chapter 302L, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which governs the state's Early Learning System;

     (8)  Inserting an unspecified appropriation for fiscal biennium 2013-2015 to support the establishment of the Early Childhood Education Program;

     (9)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     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. 1095, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1095, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair