STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3125

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2528

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2528, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Expand criminal history checks to adult relatives who provide care for a child whose family receives child care subsidies from the Department of Human Services in a regulated child care setting;

(2) Clarify the release of investigation information to the public;

(3) Clarify that the child care licensing program may share information and cooperate with child protective services and law enforcement on investigations; and

(4) Clarify that the Department of Human Services may take administrative action, judicial action, or both, to enforce child care licensing provisions and increase penalties by making them apply on a daily basis.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, The Green Preschool Kailua, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Alliance of Concerned Parents and Daycare Providers and six individuals.

Your Committees find that parents and guardians rely on child care providers to ensure the safety and well-being of their child. However, recent events involving injuries and deaths have revealed the need for the Department to enforce transparency measures for the safety of children in certain child care settings. This measure will ensure that necessary provisions are enforced to protect the health, safety, and well-being of children and reassurance to their families.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2528, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair