STAND. COM. REP. NO. 947

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 35

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. 35, 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 establish a two-year pilot program to provide early childhood education to children age five years and under.

This measure also appropriates funds for the preschool open doors program.

Your Committee recognizes that children who have had developmentally appropriate and enriching learning experiences in their earliest years are better equipped to face the subsequent challenges of school and life. Fifty-five per cent of a child's ability to learn is developed in the first four years of life. The proposed pilot project moves in the direction of universal early education for the children of Hawaii, starting with children from families who are unable to afford quality, early childhood education. Additionally, the funding proposed for the preschool open doors program will assist preschools in areas such as the hiring of qualified teachers.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Human Services to submit a final report on the pilot project to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2007 Regular Session;

(2) Appropriating an unspecified amount for the preschool open doors project to facilitate further discussion;

(3) Adding an appropriation of an unspecified amount for the second year of the pilot project, fiscal year 2006-2007, to facilitate further discussion; and

(4) 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. 35, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 35, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair