STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3397

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1999

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1999, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services for the Preschool Open Doors Program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Executive Office on Early Learning, Early Learning Board, Hui for Excellence in Education, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Children's Action Network Speaks!, Parents And Children Together, Kamehameha Schools, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that the Preschool Open Doors Program promotes school readiness by providing child care subsidies for eligible families, helping to alleviate the high cost of care. Your Committees further find that in 2021 funding for the Preschool Open Doors program was significantly decreased. Accordingly, this measure provides funding to continue to support the Preschool Open Doors Program.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2051, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1999, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1999, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair