STAND. COM. REP. NO. 23

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 185

       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 Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 185 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD CARE PROVIDERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require child care providers licensed or registered by the Department of Human Services to obtain and maintain liability insurance coverage.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Children's Action Network, Hawai‘i Association for the Education of Young Children, and ninety-six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and ten individuals.

     Your Committee finds that because many parents must work full time, infant child care is a necessity for many local families.  Through the Department of Human Services, the State regulates and inspects these child care facilities to ensure that all children are safe and healthy.  Requiring all licensed or registered child care providers to obtain and maintain liability insurance coverage may help bring assurance to families who require child care services and allow opportunities for legal recourse for parents whose children are not properly cared for.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that a provider operating a child care facility must obtain and maintain liability insurance coverage beginning January 1, 2019.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 185, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 185, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair