STAND. COM. REP. NO. 684

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 1360

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1360, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish an Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program to be administered by the Executive Office on Early Learning to address the shortage of qualified early childhood educators in Hawaii;

(2) Require stipend fund repayments for the Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program to be deposited into the Early Learning Special Fund; and

(3) Authorize the Executive Office on Early Learning to use a collection agency to secure a commission owed from a debtor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, State Public Charter School Commission, Early Learning Board, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Special Education Advisory Council, Kaulanakilohana, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and Parents And Children Together. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1360, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair