STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1772

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1065, H.D. 1, S.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 amend statutory language related to the early childhood educator special fund.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Retroactively requires stipend funds repaid after July 1, 2023, by a stipend recipient under the Hawaii Early Educator Stipend Program to be deposited into the early learning special fund; and

(2) Repeals the early childhood educator special fund.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Early Learning Board, Executive Office on Early Learning, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this housekeeping measure will provide needed clarity about the deposit of any funds repaid by participants in the Hawaii Early Educator Stipend Program.

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. 1065, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair