STAND. COM. REP. NO. 950

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 1634

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1634, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the State's support of early childhood education programs.

Specifically, the bill:

(1) Requires the identification of available facilities and facility inspections for early childhood education programs;

(2) Establishes a temporary task force to review the progress of early childhood education programs in the State, including making recommendations on improving State involvement, encouraging public-private sector partnerships, developing an office for early childhood education, and establishing standards for professional development, curriculum, and program requirements;

(3) Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to study the impact to private providers of lowering the age for entering public school over a seven-year phase-in period;

(4) Requires the Department of Human Services to work with the counties on streamlining the permit process for early childhood education facilities; and

(5) Appropriates funds for renovations to public school facilities, classroom supplies, and supplemental training for early childhood education teachers and staff.

Your Committee recognizes the importance of early childhood education in preparing Hawaii's children for the challenges of school and life. This measure provides the planning and support required to develop an early childhood education system for Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended the bill by:

(1) Transferring the study on the impacts of lowering the age for entering public school from the Legislative Reference Bureau to the temporary task force; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity 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. 1634, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1634, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair