STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1089-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 3116

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 3116, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to explicitly establish that the priority of selection for Preschool Open Doors program participation applies only during the priority application period between February 1 and the start of each state fiscal year.

Your Committee 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; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; and Early Childhood Action Strategy.

Your Committee finds that the Preschool Open Doors program provides key financial assistance to enable children to attend preschool. This measure establishes a reasonable and appropriate balance between honoring key priorities in the selection of Preschool Open Doors participants to serve children with the greatest need and ensuring continuity of care to support children's development, while also expediting enrollment, ensuring efficient expenditure of funds, and maximizing the number of children served through the program.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Revising the preamble;

(2) Removing language that required the Department of Human Services to adopt administrative rules to determine a child's underserved or at-risk status, as the Department's existing administrative rules already authorize this;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3116, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3116, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair