STAND. COM. REP. NO. 604

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 20

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Government Operations and Labor and Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 20 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Accounting and General Services to establish and operate a Child Care Center Pilot Program on Oahu for eligible children of State Employees, one in or near the State Capitol and one in Kapolei for five years.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; Executive Office on Early Learning; Early Learning Board; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; and Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!. Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that there is a shortage of child care facilities in the State. Providing child care to state employees on state property would be of benefit to working parents.

Your Committees have heard the testimony of Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks! recommending that a competitive and equitable rate of compensation for the child care workers be considered. Accordingly, your Committees request that when the Department of Accounting and General Services issues a request for proposals that a living wage component for the child care workers be included. Subsequently, your Committees request that the Department of Accounting and General Services also look at indemnification by the State of the contract awardee.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a blank appropriation amount; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Labor and Technology that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 20, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 20, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Labor and Technology,

________________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI, Chair

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair