STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1339

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 261

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 261, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Human Services to establish a Child Care Accreditation Program to assist licensed and registered child care providers in obtaining accreditation;

(2) Authorize the use of the Child Care Grant Program Special Fund for Child Care Accreditation Program grants;

(3) Extend the deadlines by which existing Preschool Open Doors Program service providers shall commence the accreditation process and obtain accreditation;

(4) Appropriate funds for the Child Care Accreditation Program, including funding for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position; and

(5) Appropriate funds into and out of the Child Care Grant Program Special Fund for the Child Care Accreditation Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Early Leaning Board, Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network Speaks!, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Parents and Children Together, Rainbow Family 808, and ten individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that the Preschool Open Doors Program is the State's school readiness program that serves low- to moderate-income families whose children will be eligible for kindergarten in the following school year. The program provides critical subsidies for income-eligible families sending their children to a licensed preschool during the year prior to kindergarten entry. To ensure that children participating in the program are receiving certain levels of care, existing law requires service providers who have not obtained accreditation from a national early learning accrediting organization by July 1, 2022, to start the accreditation process no later than July 1, 2024, and be accredited by July 1, 2029. However, the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have delayed this process for many child care providers. This measure will provide the additional time and funds needed for child care providers to obtain the necessary accreditation.

Your Committee acknowledges the testimony of the Department of Human Services raising concerns over the inability of child care facilities to maintain sufficient staff levels due to the continuing economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and requesting that the accreditation requirement for service providers receiving funds from the Preschool Open Doors Program be made voluntary until the child care workforce in the State is more stabilized or subsidized. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address these concerns.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making the accreditation requirement for service providers receiving funds from the Preschool Open Doors Program voluntary;

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(3) Inserting an effective date of June 30, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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. 261, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 261, 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