THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3116
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM.

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

SECTION 1. The purpose of this Act is to explicitly establish that the priority of selection for the preschool open doors program participation shall apply only to the priority application period between February 1 and the start of each program year. The program year is the same as the state fiscal year. Complete applications that meet program rules established pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and that are received after the start of the program year and through January 31 of each year shall be considered on a first-come, first-served basis for the balance of the program year. This will ensure that the preschool open doors program maximizes the funding appropriated to the program to serve the greatest number of three- and four-year-old children in a more timely fashion.

SECTION 2. Section 346-181, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

"(b) Subject to the availability of funds, the program shall serve three- and four-year-old children who are in the two years prior to kindergarten entry pursuant to section 302A‑411, with priority extended in the following order [to:] during a priority application period established for each upcoming program year:

(1) Children who are not eligible to attend public school kindergarten in the calendar year in which they turn five years of age because their birth date occurs after the kindergarten eligibility date pursuant to section 302A-411;

(2) Underserved or at-risk four-year-old children who were previously served as a three‑year‑old child, as defined by rules adopted by the department;

(3) Four-year-old children who were previously served as a three-year-old child;

(4) Four-year-old children;

(5) Underserved or at-risk three-year-old children, as defined by rules adopted by the department; and

(6) Three-year-old children[.];

provided that applications received after the end of the priority application period and through January 31 of each year will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of that program year. For purposes of this section, "program year" means the state fiscal year."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Department of Human Services; Preschool Open Doors Program

Description:

Establishes that the priority of selection for program participation shall be applicable through the priority application period that occurs prior to the start of each program year. Applications received after the start of the program year through January 31 will be processed continuously through the program year on a first-come, first-served basis. Effective upon approval.

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