STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2279

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2880

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2880 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 expand the existing state exemption for United States Department of Defense-certified providers to those operating off federal property.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the United States Department of Defense and Hawaii Military Affairs Council.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that military child care certification demonstrates a commitment to quality child care by the certified provider, and allows for an expedited registration process, thereby enhancing the quality of life and economic security of providers and child care-seeking families. The current exemption applies only to child care providers located on federal property. This measure will broaden the exemption beyond those providers located on federal property and will increase access to quality child care for both civilian and military families.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2880, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2880, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair