STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1804-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2700

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2700, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD REGISTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Human Services to establish and maintain an early childhood registry of early childhood provider and staff information;

(2) Require all staff used to meet the staff-child ratio in all licensed and registered child care programs to annually update their information in the registry;

(3) Require a report to the Legislature regarding updates to the registry before the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

(4) Appropriate funds to improve the registry.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, American Association of University Women of Hawaii, Imua Family Services, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Save Medicaid Hawaii, Hawai‘i Association for the Education of Young Children, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of Budget and Finance, Executive Office on Early Learning, Early Learning Board, and Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2700, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair