STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1513

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 500

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 500, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to maintain and expand the public prekindergarten program.

     Specifically, this measure:

(1)  Authorizes the State Public Charter School Commission to enter into a memorandum of understanding to administer the charter school prekindergarten classrooms; and

(2)  Appropriates funds for early-childhood education to sustain prekindergarten programs established with a federal grant. 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, the State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii Public Charter School Network, the Early Learning Advisory Board, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii's Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Children's Action Network, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds this measure provides continued support to programs that prepare young children for school.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 500, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair