STAND. COM. REP. NO. 239

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 843

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 843 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Amend or repeal various provisions of chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as related to early childhood education, that fall under the purview of the Executive Office on Early Learning or are covered by another section of the Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (2)  Amend various provisions of chapter 302L, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for housekeeping purposes.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, PHOCUSED, Hui for Excellence in Education, and three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that amendments to the Hawaii Revised Statutes are necessary to relieve statutory requirements placed upon the Department of Education, and appropriately assign certain responsibilities to the Executive Office on Early Learning.  This measure also authorizes the Executive Office on Early Learning to expend federal funds, and makes necessary clarifying amendments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 843 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair