HSCR338

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 338

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 429

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 429 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Executive Office on Early Learning:

(1) To hire teachers and teacher assistants; and

(2) For equipment and services for public preschools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Lieutenant Governor; Department of Human Services; Executive Office on Early Learning; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Kamehameha Schools; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the cost of childcare is a significant contributor to the high cost of living in the State. Many working families with young children or those considering having children cannot afford, or must save significantly to afford, a typical monthly childcare expense.

Your Committee further finds that increasing access to free public preschool education will help working families in Hawaii prepare their children for kindergarten, which would then dramatically improve the child's academic success and ultimate career opportunities. However, preschools across the State are encountering staffing shortages and lacking funding for services and equipment. This measure will provide funding for staff, equipment, and services for public preschools that will enable the State's young children to learn in a rich classroom environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amounts appropriated and amount of positions to be funded to unspecified amounts;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriating funds for the Executive Office on Early Learning, as follows:

(1) $5,027,927 for fiscal year 2025-2026, as follows:

(A) $1,706,525 for twenty-five full-time equivalent (25.0 FTE) pre-school teacher positions;

(B) $1,175,100 for twenty-five full-time equivalent (25.0 FTE) educational assistant III positions;

(D) $48,750 for substitute teachers;

(E) $200,000 for classroom supplies;

(F) $175,000 for intra-state transportation;

(G) $45,000 for subscriptions;

(H) $45,000 for other miscellaneous current expenses;

(I) $825,000 for furniture and furnishings; and

(J) $20,000 for reference books; and

(2) $8,236,302 for fiscal year 2026-2027, as follows:

(A) $3,413,050 for fifty full-time equivalent (50.0 FTE) pre-school teacher positions;

(B) $2,350,200 for fifty full-time equivalent (50.0 FTE) educational assistant III positions;

(D) $97,500 for substitute teachers;

(E) $400,000 for classroom supplies;

(F) $225,000 for intra-state transportation;

(G) $55,000 for subscriptions;

(H) $63,000 for other miscellaneous current expenses;

(I) $825,000 for furniture and furnishings; and

(J) $20,000 for reference books.

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. 429, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 429, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair