HSCR1254

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1254

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 239

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 239, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Child Care Accreditation Program within the Department of Human Services to assist licensed or registered child care providers in obtaining accreditation from a national early learning accrediting organization or an accrediting organization approved by the Director of Human Services;

(2) Extend the date by which existing unaccredited service providers of the Preschool Open Doors Program must begin the accreditation process and obtain accreditation;

(3) Appropriate funds for the Child Care Accreditation Program, including funding for one full-time equivalent position; and

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Early Learning Board, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawai‘i Association for the Education of Young Children, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that preschool and other early learning programs are critical for the development of young children in gaining essential skills, being prepared for school, and charting a course for lifelong success. Your Committee further finds that accreditation from a national early learning accrediting organization is one indicator that a child care program is providing a high-quality level of care. However, the accreditation process is expensive, time-consuming, and intensive.

Your Committee notes concerns previously raised by the Department of the Attorney General that because article X, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution prohibits the use of public funds for the support or benefit of any sectarian or nonsectarian private educational institution, the number of eligible child care facilities that would fall under the Child Care Accreditation Program may be limited.

Your Committee also finds that H.B. No. 261, H.D. 1 (Regular Session of 2023), a substantially similar measure, was previously passed by the House. That measure incorporates amendments previously suggested by the Department of the Attorney General, including standards by which the Department of Human Services is to distribute grant funds to program participants.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its contents and inserting the contents of H.B. No. 261, H.D. 1, a measure that:

(A) Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement a Child Care Accreditation Program to support accreditation of licensed and registered child care providers through the provision of grants;

(B) Delays the deadlines for existing Preschool Open Doors Program service providers to commence the accreditation process and obtain accreditation;

(D) Appropriates funds into and out of the Child Care Grant Program Special Fund for Child Care Accreditation Program grants; and

(E) Contains an effective date of June 30, 3000;

(2) Clarifying that types of licensed and registered child care settings that are eligible for grants from the Child Care Accreditation Program;

(3) Clarifying the definition of "private educational institution"; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee grants prior concurrence on this measure to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce to make any amendments it deems necessary.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 239, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 239, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair