STAND. COM. REP. NO.  717-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1676

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1676, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand access to early childhood education in the State by authorizing the Executive Office on Early Learning to enter into agreements with the Department of Education or any public charter school to use vacant classrooms, underutilized classrooms, or classrooms currently being used for preschool for public preschool classrooms, and appropriating funds for this purpose.

The Executive Office on Early Learning, State Public Charter School Commission, Department of Human Services, Early Learning Advisory Board, PHOCUSED, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education, Hui for Excellence in Education, Good Beginnings Alliance, IMUAlliance, Hawaii Community Foundation, and numerous individuals supported this measure.  The Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawai‘i Association for the Education of Young Children, and Kamehameha Schools commented on this measure.   

     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 H.B. No. 1676, 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