STAND. COM. REP. NO. 798-24

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 Finance, 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) Require the Department of Human Services to establish and implement a Child Care Classroom Contracts Pilot Program to contract directly with child care center providers in licensed infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers that meet certain criteria; and

(2) Appropriate funds for a position to support the pilot program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Executive Office on Early Learning; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Hui for Excellence in Education; Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawai‘i Association for the Education of Young Children; Save Medicaid Hawaii; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the 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 H.B. No. 2535, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair