HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

261

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to early learning opportunities.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that high-quality early childhood education programs are critical for young children's development.  The legislature further finds that accreditation by a national organization is one marker of quality in early childhood education.  The legislature also finds that service providers who wish to participate in the preschool open doors program must achieve accreditation by July 1, 2029.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Establish a program to support accreditation of licensed and registered child care providers;

     (2)  Delay the deadlines for existing preschool open doors service providers to commence the accreditation process and obtain accreditation;

     (3)  Appropriate funds for the child care accreditation program; and

     (4)  Appropriate funds for deposit into the child care grant program special fund.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 346, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§346-    Child care accreditation program; established.  (a)  The department shall establish and implement a child care accreditation program.

     (b)  The department shall develop standards, policies, and procedures for the administration of the child care accreditation program, which shall, at minimum:

     (1)  Provide upfront grant funding to cover the cost of accreditation by one of the national early learning accrediting organizations, as identified in section 346-184(b), or as approved by the director;

     (2)  Provide grant funding for technical assistance to assist a child care provider through the accreditation process; and

     (3)  Be available to licensed child care centers, licensed infant and toddler centers, registered family child care homes, and licensed group child care centers.

     (c)  The child care accreditation program may provide grant funding to cover incidental expenses to allow a child care provider to receive accreditation, including but not limited to expenses for furniture, equipment, or minor renovations.

     (d)  The department may contract with a service provider in accordance with chapter 103D and 103F, as applicable, to operate the child care accreditation program.

     (e)  The department shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session the number and general location of programs applying for and participating in the child care accreditation program, an aggregated breakdown of the type and amount of costs the program covered for providers, and the percentage of preschool open doors providers that have begun or are currently accredited."

     SECTION 3.  Section 346-184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Each service provider of the preschool open doors program shall be accredited or shall obtain accreditation within seven calendar years of first receiving any funds from the preschool open doors program; provided that any existing service provider unaccredited on July 1, 2022, shall commence the accreditation process no later than July 1, [2024,] 2027, and obtain accreditation by July 1, [2029;] 2032; provided further that the director may grant to any service provider one or more extensions to obtain accreditation on a case-by-case basis."

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the child care accreditation program established by section 2 of this Act, including for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent position for the child care accreditation program.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be deposited into the child care grant special fund established pursuant to section 346-183, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Early Learning; Child Care; Accreditation; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the department of human services to establish a child care accreditation program to assist licensed and registered child care providers obtain accreditation.  Amends the time period for when existing preschool open doors service providers are required to obtain accreditation.  Appropriates funds for the child care accreditation program, including for the establishment of one full-time position for the program.  Appropriates funds into the child care grant special fund.

 

 

 

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