CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 1

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2013

RE:    S.B. No. 1084

       S.D. 1

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in 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,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is propose 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 to help the State meet its goal of providing an early education system for the children of Hawaii.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that high quality early learning programs that are affordable and accessible for all children are critically important for ensuring the success of Hawaii's keiki.  In addition, significant, long-term benefits realized through investments in high-quality, early learning systems have been proven through decades of research.  Hawaii is one of only eleven states that does not publicly fund early education.

     Your Committee on Conference recognizes the need to form public-private partnerships to provide Hawaii's keiki with high-quality early childhood education.  This measure will authorize the implementation of S.B. No. 1095, C.D. 1 (2013), to allow the Office on Early Learning to contract with private early learning education programs, which have been the primary providers for early education in our State.  This program will assist more children in establishing a solid foundation for success in school and life.

     Your Committee on Conference notes that the Department of the Attorney General has affirmed that this measure gives the Legislature the power to determine, by law, the requirements the State may place on private early learning education programs who participate in the State's early education system to ensure that all provisions of the state and federal constitutions and all state and federal laws are followed.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1084, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1084, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ ROY M. TAKUMI, Co-Chair	____________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair
____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Co-Chair	____________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO, Co-Chair
____________________________ SYLVIA LUKE, Co-Chair	____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Co-Chair