STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1086

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1065

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1065, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require stipend funds repaid by a stipend recipient under the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program to be deposited into the Early Learning Special Fund; and

(2) Repeal the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Special Fund.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning and Early Learning Board.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program provides financial support to applicants in the form of stipends for the costs associated with coursework to become a qualified childhood educator. Repaid stipend funds were initially deposited into the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Special Fund established by Act 210, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021 (Act 210). However, Act 210 mandated that the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Special Fund be repealed on June 30, 2023, making the fund obsolete. Accordingly, this measure redirects funds repaid to the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program to ensure continued support of prospective early childhood educators.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1065, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1065, 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 Committee on Education,

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair