STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2825

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3087

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3087, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand access to early learning programs by allowing those programs to operate on public properties outside of Department of Education school campuses.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of Education, Executive Office on Early Learning, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, HE'E Coalition, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Kamehameha Schools, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure will help to increase the number of available locations for early learning programs without expending state moneys, which will help the State to meet its goal of providing all three- and four-year-old children with access to preschool by December 31, 2032, as established by section 26-61, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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. 3087, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair