STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1805-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2701

S.D. 2

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2701, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Human Services to establish and implement a one-year Child Care Worker Subsidy Pilot Program to assist in retaining the existing child care workforce; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the pilot program and the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning; Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women; Early Learning Board; American Association of University Women of Hawaii; American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Chapter; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Save Medicaid Hawaii; Hawai‘i Association for the Education of Young Children; Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!; Imua Family Services; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and 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 S.B. No. 2701, S.D. 2, 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