STAND. COM. REP. NO. 17

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 497

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 497 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the qualifying age for the preschool open doors program to children four years old and younger.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Parents and Children Together, Hawaii State Parent Teacher Student Association, Kamehameha Schools, Seagull Schools, Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children, Hui for Excellence in Education, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, Community Children's Council of Hawaii, and five individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

 

     Your Committee finds that the preschool open doors program is Hawaii's school readiness program that provides critical subsidies for low to moderate income families sending their children to a licensed preschool to prepare them for kindergarten.  Expanding the qualifying age for the preschool open doors program creates short-term and long-term benefits for children, individuals, and society as a whole.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 497 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

 

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair