STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1154

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 692

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 Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Expand the Preschool Open Doors Program's eligibility criteria; and

(2) Repeal the requirement that Preschool Open Doors Program providers be accredited.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; Department of Human Services; Executive Office on Early Learning; Early Learning Board; County of Honolulu Committee on the Status of Women; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu; Kamehameha Schools; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50; Parents for Public Schools Hawaiʻi; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Hui for Excellence in Education; Puakalehua Early Learning Consortium; Parents and Children Together; AAUW of Hawaii; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Family Hui Hawaii; Kupuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that reducing financial barriers to community-based early learning programs enables more parents and caregivers to participate in the workforce while ensuring their children receive the early childhood development and learning experiences critical to lifelong well-being. Your Committee further finds that the Preschool Open Doors Program plays a crucial role in helping families afford quality child care by providing subsidies to eligible families to help pay preschool tuition. This measure expands the eligibility criteria and removes the provider accreditation requirement for the Preschool Open Doors Program to allow more families to remain in the workforce, achieve greater economic stability, and provide a strong foundation for their keiki to grow and thrive.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2026; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 692, 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 Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair