STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3092

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2700

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2700, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure that the data in the Department of Human Services' early childhood registry is consistently collected and analyzed.

 

     More specifically, this measure:

 

     (1)  Requires the Department of Human Services to direct staff of certain childcare programs to update information in the Department's early childhood registry;

 

     (2)  Requires the Department of Human Services to submit a report to the Legislature regarding updates to the early childhood registry; and

 

     (3)  Appropriates moneys for the Department of Human Services to improve the early childhood registry.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Early Learning Board, Executive Office on Early Learning, AAUW of Hawaii, AF3IRM Hawaii, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Faith Action for Community Equity, Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Neighborhood Place of Kona, Save Medicaid Hawaii, and numerous individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that by improving the collection and analysis of data in the early childhood registry, this measure will help to expand the availability of access to high-quality early childcare and education programs in the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Codifying in statute, rather than session law, the requirement that the Department of Human Services direct staff of certain childcare programs to update information in the Department's early childhood registry;

 

     (2)  Clarifying the Department of Human Services' reporting requirements;

 

     (3)  Changing the appropriation from $80,000 to an unspecified amount to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

     (4)  Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

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

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair