STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3703

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1964

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1964, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to strengthen the State's childcare and early education workforce.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes a child care provider subsidy and bonus program to adequately compensate and retain the existing early child care workforce in all licensed and registered child care provider settings; and

(2) Appropriates moneys for the child care provider subsidy and bonus program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Early Learning Board, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Executive Office on Early Learning, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, a member of the Hawaii County Council, Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaii, Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Early Childhood Resource Center of the County of Maui, Chamber of Sustainable Commerce, Parents and Children Together, Courtney's Day Care, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawai`i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, American Association of University Women Hawaii, Holomua Collaborative, He`e Coalition, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Women Lawyers, Aloha United Way, The Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Democratic Women's Caucus, and more than fifty individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and University of Hawaii.

Your Committee 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. Your Committee further finds that the establishment of a child care provider subsidy and bonus program will help to retain and recruit child care and early education professionals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Codifying the child care provider subsidy and bonus program in Chapter 346, part VIII, subpart A, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Clarifying that an application to participate in the child care provider subsidy and bonus program must contain proof that only child care workers, instead of both child care workers and family child care homes, are employees of a licensed or registered child care provider; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1964, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1964, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair