STAND. COM. REP. NO. 143

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 512

       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. 512 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require all child care providers subject to regulation by the Department of Human Services to:

     (1)  Obtain and maintain liability insurance as a condition of licensure, temporary permission, or registration; and

     (2)  Appropriately disclose information related to their liability insurance coverage to parents or guardians applying for child care or whose child is being cared for by the providers.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Children's Action Network and two 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, 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 Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a blank minimum amount, rather than amount to be determined by the Department of Human Services, for the amount of liability insurance coverage required by child care providers to obtain and maintain as a condition of licensure, temporary permission, or registration to operate a child care facility; and

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     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. 512, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 512, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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