Bill Text: HI SB1084 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Early Childhood Education; Public Funds; Constitutional Amendment (ConAm)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2013-05-07 - Enrolled to Governor. [SB1084 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2013-SB1084-Amended.html
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 132
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 1084
Honorable Donna Mercado Kim
President of the Senate
Twenty-Seventh State Legislature
Regular Session of 2013
State of Hawaii
Madam:
Your Committees on Education and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 1084 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 1, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO PERMIT THE APPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PRIVATE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to propose an amendment to article X, section 1, of the Hawaii State Constitution to permit the appropriation of public funds for private early childhood education programs to help the State meet its goal of providing an early education system for the children of Hawaii.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor, Department of Human Services, Department of Education, Department of the Attorney General, Department of Health, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Child & Family Service, Hawai‘i Association for the Education of Young Children, Kamehameha Schools, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii Business Roundtable Incorporated, IMUAlliance, Community Children's Council of Hawaii, Hawaii State Parent Teacher Student Association, Special Education Advisory Council, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and three individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Good Beginnings Alliance.
Your Committees find that high quality early learning programs that are affordable and accessible for all children are critically important for ensuring the success of Hawaii's keiki. In addition, significant, long-term benefits realized through investments in high-quality, early learning systems have been proven through decades of research. Hawaii is one of only eleven states that does not publicly fund early education.
Your Committees recognize the need to form public-private partnerships to provide Hawaii's keiki with high-quality early childhood education. This measure will authorize the implementation of S.B. No. 1095, S.D. 1 (2013) to allow the Office on Early Learning to contract with private early learning education programs, which have been the primary providers for early education in our State. This program will assist more children in establishing a solid foundation for success in school and life.
Your Committees note that the Department of the Attorney General has affirmed that this measure gives the Legislature the power to determine, by law, the requirements the State may place on private early learning education programs who participate in the State's early education system to ensure that all state laws are followed.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1084 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Judiciary and Labor,
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____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair |
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____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair |
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