HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

547

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to early child care.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that a strong child care and early education workforce is necessary to support Hawaii's children, working families, and communities.  The legislature further finds that the demand for quality child care and early education far exceeds the number of qualified child care and early education professionals currently available in the State.  The legislature also finds that efforts to maintain and expand quality, affordable child care and early education programs are hindered by a lack of qualified child care and early education professionals.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Establish a two-year infant and toddler child care worker subsidy pilot program to retain the existing early child care workforce in licensed infant and toddler center settings; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds for the child care worker subsidy pilot program, to be expended by the department of human services.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of human services shall establish and implement a two-year infant and toddler child care worker subsidy pilot program.

     (b)  The department of human services shall develop standards and qualifications for participation in the pilot program by child care workers, which at a minimum shall meet the following requirements:

     (1)  The pilot program shall be available to all lead caregivers, caregivers, and child care aides in infant and toddler centers licensed by the department of human services;

     (2)  Participants shall not be employed by the department of education, public charter schools, or federally funded early head start programs; and

     (3)  Participants shall be limited to child care workers working in licensed infant and toddler centers only.

     (c)  The department of human services shall establish best practices to bring all participants' pay to, at a minimum, $16.00 per hour.

     (d)  The department of human services may convene and consult community members to establish best practices, policies, or procedures, including but not limited to the development of a salary schedule, educational requirements, and other matters that would assist in the implementation of the pilot program.

     (e)  The pilot program shall cease to exist on July 1, 2025.

     SECTION 3.  (a)  The department of human services shall submit interim reports on the infant and toddler child care worker subsidy pilot program's development and implementation, including impacts to infant and toddler child care center operators and staff, and any proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2024 and 2025.

     (b)  The department of human services shall submit a final report on the infant and toddler child care worker subsidy pilot program, including impacts to infant and toddler child care center operators and staff, and any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026.

     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 infant and toddler child care worker subsidy pilot program established by section 2 of this Act.

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

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Child Care Workforce; Subsidy; Pilot Program; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the department of human services to establish and implement a two-year infant and toddler child care worker subsidy pilot program to assist in retaining the existing child care workforce.  Appropriates funds for the pilot program.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.