STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1787

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 549

H.D. 3

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 549, H.D. 3, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN EARLY LEARNING APPRENTICESHIP GRANT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish an Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program to award grants to early learning program service providers that participate in a state- or federally-approved early learning apprentice program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Early Learning Board, Executive Office on Early Learning, Department of Human Services, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii State Board of Education, City and County of Honolulu, American Association of University Women Hawaii, Holomua Collaborative, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Parents And Children Together, Hui for Excellence in Education, Parents for Public Schools of Hawaii, Kauai Democratic Party/HCAN Ohana Leadership Council, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that early learning apprenticeship programs provide invaluable learning experiences and an incentive for individuals to become early learning professionals. However, many early learning providers cannot afford to pay the higher wages required for an apprentice program. Your Committee believes that this measure will help to provide funding so that more early learning providers can participate in apprenticeship programs and ultimately increase the availability of early learning programs throughout the State.

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 H.B. No. 549, H.D. 3, 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