STAND. COM. REP. NO. 287-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2535

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2535, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Child Care Classroom Contracts Pilot Program to develop and implement procedures to subsidize child care classrooms in licensed infant and toddler child care centers or group child care centers; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the Child Care Classroom Contracts Pilot Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Early Childhood Action Strategy; Hui for Excellence in Education; Parents and Children Together; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Association for the Education of Young Children; Aloha United Way; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022-2023, more than fifteen thousand families received Child Care Connection Hawaii subsidies to help them afford child care services. Your Committee further finds that when the operating costs for child care centers are funded by tuition fees, these providers can face disruption and possible closure because of the variable nature of enrollment figures. This measure assists Hawaii's families by establishing a pilot program to ensure a stable source of funding for qualified infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2535, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair