STAND. COM. REP. NO. 412

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1616

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 Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 1616 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CARE CENTERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that new and newly renovated state buildings with a budget of $5,000,000 or more include dedicated space for a child care center or an adult day care center.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of the Attorney General, Department of Accounting and General Services, Executive Office on Early Learning, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the high cost and scarcity of child care prevent many parents from fully participating in the workforce and contribute to the already high cost of living in the State. Meanwhile, attracting and retaining skilled labor is a growing issue for the State. This measure requires certain new or newly renovated state buildings to host child care or adult day care centers, allowing the State to attract qualified employees and better provide for existing staff.

Your Committee recognizes the concerns raised in testimony that a program of this scope and size merits a feasibility study before enactment. Therefore, your Committee recommends replacing the contents of this measure with provisions outlining the scope, methodology, and objectives of the required feasibility study, so any future statutory enactments pertaining to this subject matter are grounded in comprehensive data, fiscal analysis, and operational assessments.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its contents and inserting language requiring the Department of Accounting and General Services to conduct a feasibility study that includes the costs associated with the implementation of dedicated spaces for child care centers in state buildings;

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(3) Inserting an effective date of January 1, 2491, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1616, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1616, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Operations,

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ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair