STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2935

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3116

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 S.B. No. 3116, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to explicitly establish that the priority of selection for preschool open doors program participation shall apply only to the priority application period between February 1 and the start of each state fiscal year.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Executive Office on Early Learning, Hui for Excellence in Education Coalition, Early Childhood Action Strategy, and Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!

Your Committee recognizes that the current procedures for prioritizing applications for the preschool open doors program during an application period result in a brief, one- to two-month period after the application period ends and the next application period starts. Your Committee finds that by specifying that the priority criteria shall be applicable through the priority application period, the State can both preserve the prioritization process and facilitate the review of applications.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that for the purposes of priority of selection for the preschool open doors program, the Department of Humans Services shall adopt administrative rules to determine a child's underserved or at-risk status; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes 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 S.B. No. 3116, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3116, S.D. 2.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair