STAND. COM. REP. NO. 343

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1384

       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 Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1384 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:

 

     (1)  Require funds repaid by a stipend recipient of the Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program to be deposited into the Early Learning Special Fund; and

 

     (2)  Repeal the Early Childhood Educator Special Fund.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Early Learning Board and Executive Office on Early Learning.

 

     Your Committee finds that Act 210, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, established the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program to address the shortage of qualified early childhood educators in the State.  While the Stipend Program remains operational, the Early Childhood Educator Special Fund was repealed in 2023.  As the previous Special Fund is no longer in use, finding a new source to deposit funds will ensure funds can continue to support the next generation of early childhood educators.  Therefore, this measure continues to support prospective candidates seeking a career in early childhood education in the State while ensuring operational efficiency.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     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 S.B. No. 1384, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1384, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair