STAND. COM. REP. NO. 19

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 748

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. 748 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services to post its inspection records of child care facilities on a public website and submit an annual report to the Legislature of certain information from inspection records related to child care facilities.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children, Hawaii Children's Action Network, and one hundred six individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and seven 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 the Department of Human Services to post its inspection records of child care facilities on its website may help bring assurance to families who are seeking or using child care services from these facilities.

     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. 748 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Ways and Means.

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

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JOSH GREEN, Chair