STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1606-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 93

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.R. No. 93 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE EARLY LEARNING BOARD TO PREPARE A REPORT CONTAINING A ROAD MAP, INCLUDING PROPOSED LEGISLATION, FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT 46, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2020,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Early Learning Board to:

(1) Prepare a report containing a road map for the implementation of Act 46, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020;

(2) Convene a working group to assist the Board for the purposes of the report; and

(3) Submit the report to the Legislature prior to the 2023 Regular Session.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Kamehameha Schools, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Early Learning Board and Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!.

Your Committee finds that providing every child with access to early learning opportunities supports positive outcomes in academics, promotes emotional well-being, and establishes a strong foundation for a lifetime of success. Your Committee further finds that one of the objectives of Act 46, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, is to build the infrastructure and develop resources necessary to achieve the objective of providing the capacity to serve one hundred percent of all otherwise unserved children who are three to four years of age, or will not be at least five years of age on or before July 31 of the current school year, with access to learning by the year 2032. Your Committee believes that the Early Learning Board is the appropriate agency to promote collaboration across agencies and stakeholders serving young children to achieve the purpose of Act 46, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 93, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 93, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair