CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 73

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 423

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 423, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EARLY LEARNING BOARD,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require one voting member of the Early Learning Board to have experience as a local provider of early childhood education and development services;

(2) Add the Director of the Hawaii Head Start State Collaboration Office as an ex officio, nonvoting member to the Early Learning Board; and

(3) Require the Early Learning Board to invite the President of the Head Start Association of Hawaii, or their designee, to serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the Board.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Early Learning Board provides critical perspective in shaping early childhood education policy in the State. However, as the Early Learning Board serves as Hawaii's State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care for the federal Head Start Act, the board must include representation from a Head Start program operating in the State to remain compliant with existing federal requirements. Accordingly, this measure updates the composition of the Early Learning Board to conform with requirements of the federal Head Start Act while ensuring a high level of expertise among the appointed members.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 423, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 423, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Chair
____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO Co-Chair