STAND. COM. REP. NO. 33

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 21

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 21 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the monetary penalties and establish criminal penalties for violating laws relating to child care facilities.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Children's Action Network, and forty-three individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committees find 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.  Increasing the fines and establishing criminal penalties for child care facility providers who violate state laws relating to child care facilities may encourage an upkeep of best practices and allow opportunities for legal recourse for parents whose children are not properly cared for.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by increasing the class of offense from a misdemeanor to a class C felony for any person who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly violates the laws relating to child care facilities.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 21, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 21, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair