HB 692: Preschool Open Doors Program; Eligibility; Providers

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to expand the eligibility criteria for the preschool open doors program, thereby enhancing access to child care opportunities for families with young children.  This expansion seeks to address the needs of families with young children by increasing access to affordable childhood care services, contributing to the positive developmental outcomes for Hawaii's youngest residents.

     SECTION 2.  Section 346-181, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§346-181  Preschool open doors program.  (a)  There is established within the [department a school readiness program to be known as the] department's child care assistance program a preschool open doors program [within the department's child care assistance program].  The program is intended to support families in accessing early learning services for young children.  The program shall:

     (1)  Provide access to [school readiness] early learning services that address children's physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development;

     (2)  Require each provider to conduct [school readiness] early learning assessments; and

    [(3)  Give priority to children from low- and moderate-income families; and

     (4)] (3)  Prepare children for school through either of the State's two official languages.

     (b)  Subject to the availability of funds, the program shall continuously serve [three- and four-year-old] children who are in the [two] three years [prior to] before kindergarten entry until they enter kindergarten pursuant to section 302A‑411[, with priority extended in the following order during a priority application period established for each upcoming state fiscal year:

     (1)  Children who are not eligible to attend public school kindergarten in the calendar year in which they turn five years of age because their birth date occurs after the kindergarten eligibility date pursuant to section 302A-411;

     (2)  Underserved or at-risk four-year-old children who were previously served as three‑year‑old children;

     (3)  Four-year-old children who were previously served as three-year-old children;

     (4)  Four-year-old children;

     (5)  Underserved or at-risk three-year-old children; and

     (6)  Three-year-old children;

provided that the department shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to determine a child's underserved or at-risk status, if not duplicative of the rules already adopted under chapter 17-799, Hawaii Administrative Rules; and applications received after the end of the priority application period and through January 31 of each year shall be processed on a first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of the state fiscal year].

     (c)  A child care program chosen by a parent or guardian for the purposes of this chapter shall be limited to:

     (1)  A group child care center that is licensed by the department under section 346-161;

     (2)  A group child care home that is licensed by the department under section 346-161; or

     (3)  An exempt center-based provider that meets the requirements of section 346-152.5.

     (d)  Participation in the program shall not require group child care centers or group child care homes to be accredited by an approved accredited body.

     [(c)] (e)  Enrollment in the program shall be voluntary.  A parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the program [shall] may share in the costs of the program through a copayment according to a sliding fee scale that is based on need pursuant to rules adopted by the department.

     [(d)] (f)  The department may adopt interim rules to carry out the purposes of this section without regard to chapter 91 or 201M; provided that:

     (1)  The department shall hold at least one public hearing prior to the adoption of interim rules;

     (2)  The interim rules shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws; and

     (3)  The interim rules shall be effective for no more than one year after their adoption."

     SECTION 3.  Section 346-188, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The department shall develop standards, policies, and procedures for the administration of the child care accreditation program, which shall, at minimum:

     (1)  Provide upfront grant funding to cover the cost of accreditation by one of the national early learning accrediting organizations, [as identified in section 346-184(b), or] as approved by the director;

     (2)  Provide grant funding for technical assistance to assist an eligible child care provider through the accreditation process; and

     (3)  Be available to licensed group child care centers, licensed group child care homes, licensed infant and toddler child care centers, and registered family child care homes."

     SECTION 4.  Section 346-184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     ["§346-184  Preschool open doors program; provider accreditation.  (a)  Each service provider of the preschool open doors program shall be accredited or shall obtain accreditation within seven calendar years of first receiving any funds from the preschool open doors program; provided that any existing service provider unaccredited on July 1, 2022, shall commence the accreditation process no later than July 1, 2029, and obtain accreditation by July 1, 2034; provided further that the director may grant to any service provider one or more extensions to obtain accreditation on a case-by-case basis.

     (b)  Accreditation under this section shall be obtained from one or more of the following national early learning accrediting organizations:

     (1)  National Association for the Education of Young Children;

     (2)  National Early Childhood Program Accreditation;

     (3)  National Association for Family Child Care; or

     (4)  An accrediting organization approved by the director.

     (c)  Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a service provider may receive or continue to receive funding through the preschool open doors program if the service provider maintains a satisfactory performance rating under the Classroom Assessment Scoring System developed by the University of Virginia and performed in conformance with United States Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.

     (d)  The department shall provide operational and financial support to service providers to assist the service providers in obtaining accreditation.  The department may contract with a private entity to assist service providers in obtaining accreditation."]

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2026.

Report Title:

Preschool Open Doors Program; Eligibility; Providers

Description:

Expands the Preschool Open Doors Program's eligibility criteria.  Repeals the requirement that Preschool Open Doors Program providers be accredited.  Effective 1/1/2026.  (CD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to expand the eligibility criteria for the preschool open doors program, thereby enhancing access to child care opportunities for families with young children.  This expansion seeks to address the needs of families with young children by increasing access to affordable childhood care services, contributing to the positive developmental outcomes for Hawaii's youngest residents.

     SECTION 2.  Section 346-181, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§346-181  Preschool open doors program.  (a)  There is established within the [department a school readiness program to be known as the] department's child care assistance program a preschool open doors program [within the department's child care assistance program].  The program is intended to support families in accessing early learning services for young children.  The program shall:

     (1)  Provide access to [school readiness] early learning services that address children's physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development;

     (2)  Require each provider to conduct [school readiness] early learning assessments; and

    [(3)  Give priority to children from low- and moderate-income families; and

     (4)] (3)  Prepare children for school through either of the State's two official languages.

     (b)  Subject to the availability of funds, the program shall continuously serve [three- and four-year-old] children who are in the [two] three years [prior to] before kindergarten entry until they enter kindergarten pursuant to section 302A‑411[, with priority extended in the following order during a priority application period established for each upcoming state fiscal year:

     (1)  Children who are not eligible to attend public school kindergarten in the calendar year in which they turn five years of age because their birth date occurs after the kindergarten eligibility date pursuant to section 302A-411;

     (2)  Underserved or at-risk four-year-old children who were previously served as three‑year‑old children;

     (3)  Four-year-old children who were previously served as three-year-old children;

     (4)  Four-year-old children;

     (5)  Underserved or at-risk three-year-old children; and

     (6)  Three-year-old children;

provided that the department shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to determine a child's underserved or at-risk status, if not duplicative of the rules already adopted under chapter 17-799, Hawaii Administrative Rules; and applications received after the end of the priority application period and through January 31 of each year shall be processed on a first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of the state fiscal year].

     (c)  A child care program chosen by a parent or guardian for the purposes of this chapter shall be limited to:

     (1)  A group child care center that is licensed by the department under section 346-161;

     (2)  A group child care home that is licensed by the department under section 346-161; or

     (3)  An exempt center-based provider that meets the requirements of section 346-152.5.

     (d)  Participation in the program shall not require group child care centers or group child care homes to be accredited by an approved accredited body.

     [(c)] (e)  Enrollment in the program shall be voluntary.  A parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the program [shall] may share in the costs of the program through a copayment according to a sliding fee scale that is based on need pursuant to rules adopted by the department.

     [(d)] (f)  The department may adopt interim rules to carry out the purposes of this section without regard to chapter 91 or 201M; provided that:

     (1)  The department shall hold at least one public hearing prior to the adoption of interim rules;

     (2)  The interim rules shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws; and

     (3)  The interim rules shall be effective for no more than one year after their adoption."

     SECTION 3.  Section 346-188, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The department shall develop standards, policies, and procedures for the administration of the child care accreditation program, which shall, at minimum:

     (1)  Provide upfront grant funding to cover the cost of accreditation by one of the national early learning accrediting organizations, [as identified in section 346-184(b), or] as approved by the director;

     (2)  Provide grant funding for technical assistance to assist an eligible child care provider through the accreditation process; and

     (3)  Be available to licensed group child care centers, licensed group child care homes, licensed infant and toddler child care centers, and registered family child care homes."

     SECTION 4.  Section 346-184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     ["§346-184  Preschool open doors program; provider accreditation.  (a)  Each service provider of the preschool open doors program shall be accredited or shall obtain accreditation within seven calendar years of first receiving any funds from the preschool open doors program; provided that any existing service provider unaccredited on July 1, 2022, shall commence the accreditation process no later than July 1, 2029, and obtain accreditation by July 1, 2034; provided further that the director may grant to any service provider one or more extensions to obtain accreditation on a case-by-case basis.

     (b)  Accreditation under this section shall be obtained from one or more of the following national early learning accrediting organizations:

     (1)  National Association for the Education of Young Children;

     (2)  National Early Childhood Program Accreditation;

     (3)  National Association for Family Child Care; or

     (4)  An accrediting organization approved by the director.

     (c)  Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a service provider may receive or continue to receive funding through the preschool open doors program if the service provider maintains a satisfactory performance rating under the Classroom Assessment Scoring System developed by the University of Virginia and performed in conformance with United States Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.

     (d)  The department shall provide operational and financial support to service providers to assist the service providers in obtaining accreditation.  The department may contract with a private entity to assist service providers in obtaining accreditation."]

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

Preschool Open Doors Program; Eligibility; Providers

Description:

Expands the Preschool Open Doors Program's eligibility criteria.  Repeals the requirement that Preschool Open Doors Program providers be accredited.  Effective 7/1/2026.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to expand the eligibility criteria for the preschool open doors program, thereby enhancing access to child care opportunities for families with young children.  This expansion seeks to address the needs of families with young children by increasing access to affordable childhood care services, contributing to the positive developmental outcomes for Hawaii's youngest residents.

     SECTION 2.  Section 346-181, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§346-181  Preschool open doors program.  (a)  There is established within the department a [school readiness] program to be known as the preschool open doors program within the department's child care assistance program.  The program is intended to support families in accessing early learning services for young children.  The program shall:

     (1)  Provide access to [school readiness] early learning services that address children's physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development;

     (2)  Require each provider to conduct [school readiness] early learning assessments; and

     (3)  [Give priority to children from low- and moderate-income families; and

     (4)] Prepare children for school through either of the State's two official languages.

     (b)  Subject to the availability of funds, the program shall continuously serve [three- and four-year-old] children who are in the [two] three years prior to kindergarten entry until they enter kindergarten pursuant to section 302A‑411[, with priority extended in the following order during a priority application period established for each upcoming state fiscal year:

     (1)  Children who are not eligible to attend public school kindergarten in the calendar year in which they turn five years of age because their birth date occurs after the kindergarten eligibility date pursuant to section 302A-411;

     (2)  Underserved or at-risk four-year-old children who were previously served as three‑year‑old children;

     (3)  Four-year-old children who were previously served as three-year-old children;

     (4)  Four-year-old children;

     (5)  Underserved or at-risk three-year-old children; and

     (6)  Three-year-old children;

provided that the department shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to determine a child's underserved or at-risk status, if not duplicative of the rules already adopted under chapter 17-799, Hawaii Administrative Rules; and applications received after the end of the priority application period and through January 31 of each year shall be processed on a first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of the state fiscal year].

     (c)  A child care program chosen by a parent or guardian for the purposes of this chapter shall be limited to:

     (1)  A group child care center that is licensed by the department under section 346-161;

     (2)  A group child care home that is licensed by the department under section 346-161; or

     (3)  An exempt center-based provider that meets the requirements of section 346-152.5.

     (d)  Participation in the program shall not require group child care centers or group child care homes to be accredited by an approved accredited body.

     [(c)] (e)  Enrollment in the program shall be voluntary.  A parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the program [shall] may share in the costs of the program through a copayment according to a sliding fee scale that is based on need pursuant to rules adopted by the department.

     [(d)] (f)  The department may adopt interim rules to carry out the purposes of this section without regard to chapter 91 or 201M; provided that:

     (1)  The department shall hold at least one public hearing prior to the adoption of interim rules;

     (2)  The interim rules shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws; and

     (3)  The interim rules shall be effective for no more than one year after their adoption."

     SECTION 3.  Section 346-188, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The department shall develop standards, policies, and procedures for the administration of the child care accreditation program, which shall, at minimum:

     (1)  Provide upfront grant funding to cover the cost of accreditation by one of the national early learning accrediting organizations, [as identified in section 346-184(b), or] as approved by the director;

     (2)  Provide grant funding for technical assistance to assist an eligible child care provider through the accreditation process; and

     (3)  Be available to licensed group child care centers, licensed group child care homes, licensed infant and toddler child care centers, and registered family child care homes."

     SECTION 4.  Section 346-184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     ["§346-184  Preschool open doors program; provider accreditation.  (a)  Each service provider of the preschool open doors program shall be accredited or shall obtain accreditation within seven calendar years of first receiving any funds from the preschool open doors program; provided that any existing service provider unaccredited on July 1, 2022, shall commence the accreditation process no later than July 1, 2029, and obtain accreditation by July 1, 2034; provided further that the director may grant to any service provider one or more extensions to obtain accreditation on a case-by-case basis.

     (b)  Accreditation under this section shall be obtained from one or more of the following national early learning accrediting organizations:

     (1)  National Association for the Education of Young Children;

     (2)  National Early Childhood Program Accreditation;

     (3)  National Association for Family Child Care; or

     (4)  An accrediting organization approved by the director.

     (c)  Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a service provider may receive or continue to receive funding through the preschool open doors program if the service provider maintains a satisfactory performance rating under the Classroom Assessment Scoring System developed by the University of Virginia and performed in conformance with United States Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.

     (d)  The department shall provide operational and financial support to service providers to assist the service providers in obtaining accreditation.  The department may contract with a private entity to assist service providers in obtaining accreditation."]

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Preschool Open Doors Program; Eligibility; Providers

Description:

Expands the Preschool Open Doors Program's eligibility criteria.  Repeals the requirement that Preschool Open Doors Program providers be accredited.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the preschool open doors program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to expand the eligibility criteria for the preschool open doors program, thereby enhancing access to child care opportunities for families with young children.  This expansion seeks to address the needs of families with young children by increasing access to affordable childhood care services, contributing to the developmental outcomes for Hawaii's youngest residents.

     SECTION 2.  Section 346-181, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§346-181  Preschool open doors program.  (a)  There is established within the department a [school readiness] program to be known as the preschool open doors program within the department's child care assistance program.  The program is intended to support families in accessing early learning services for young children.  The program shall:

     (1)  Provide access to [school readiness] early learning services that address children's physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development;

     (2)  Require each provider to conduct [school readiness] early learning assessments; and

     (3)  [Give priority to children from low- and moderate-income families; and

     (4)] Prepare children for school through either of the State's two official languages.

     (b)  Subject to the availability of funds, the program shall continuously serve [three- and four-year-old] two-year-old through five-year-old children who are in the [two] three years prior to kindergarten entry until they enter kindergarten pursuant to section 302A‑411[, with priority extended in the following order during a priority application period established for each upcoming state fiscal year:

     (1)  Children who are not eligible to attend public school kindergarten in the calendar year in which they turn five years of age because their birth date occurs after the kindergarten eligibility date pursuant to section 302A-411;

     (2)  Underserved or at-risk four-year-old children who were previously served as three‑year‑old children;

     (3)  Four-year-old children who were previously served as three-year-old children;

     (4)  Four-year-old children;

     (5)  Underserved or at-risk three-year-old children; and

     (6)  Three-year-old children;

provided that the department shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to determine a child's underserved or at-risk status, if not duplicative of the rules already adopted under chapter 17-799, Hawaii Administrative Rules; and applications received after the end of the priority application period and through January 31 of each year shall be processed on a first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of the state fiscal year].

     (c)  A child care program chosen by a parent or guardian for the purposes of this chapter shall be limited to:

     (1)  A group child care center that is licensed by the department under section 346-161;

     (2)  A group child care home that is licensed by the department under section 346-161;

     (3)  An accredited family child care center that is registered by the department in accordance with section 346-171; or

     (4)  An exempt center-based provider that is listed with the department in accordance with section 346-152.

     (d)  Participation in the program shall not require preschools or early learning programs to be accredited by an approved accredited body.

     (e)  Enrollment in the program shall be voluntary.  A parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the program shall share in the costs of the program through a copayment [according to a sliding fee scale that is based on need] of up to one dollar pursuant to rules adopted by the department.

     [(d)] (f)  The department may adopt interim rules to carry out the purposes of this section without regard to chapter 91 or 201M; provided that:

     (1)  The department shall hold at least one public hearing prior to the adoption of interim rules;

     (2)  The interim rules shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws; and

     (3)  The interim rules shall be effective for no more than one year after their adoption."

     SECTION 3.  Section 346-188, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  The department shall develop standards, policies, and procedures for the administration of the child care accreditation program, which shall, at minimum:

     (1)  Provide upfront grant funding to cover the cost of accreditation by one of the national early learning accrediting organizations, [as identified in section 346-184(b), or] as approved by the director;

     (2)  Provide grant funding for technical assistance to assist an eligible child care provider through the accreditation process; and

     (3)  Be available to licensed group child care centers, licensed group child care homes, licensed infant and toddler child care centers, and registered family child care homes."

     SECTION 4.  Section 346-184, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.

     ["§346-184  Preschool open doors program; provider accreditation.  (a)  Each service provider of the preschool open doors program shall be accredited or shall obtain accreditation within seven calendar years of first receiving any funds from the preschool open doors program; provided that any existing service provider unaccredited on July 1, 2022, shall commence the accreditation process no later than July 1, 2029, and obtain accreditation by July 1, 2034; provided further that the director may grant to any service provider one or more extensions to obtain accreditation on a case-by-case basis.

     (b)  Accreditation under this section shall be obtained from one or more of the following national early learning accrediting organizations:

     (1)  National Association for the Education of Young Children;

     (2)  National Early Childhood Program Accreditation;

     (3)  National Association for Family Child Care; or

     (4)  An accrediting organization approved by the director.

     (c)  Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), a service provider may receive or continue to receive funding through the preschool open doors program if the service provider maintains a satisfactory performance rating under the Classroom Assessment Scoring System developed by the University of Virginia and performed in conformance with United States Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.

     (d)  The department shall provide operational and financial support to service providers to assist the service providers in obtaining accreditation.  The department may contract with a private entity to assist service providers in obtaining accreditation."]

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Preschool Open Doors Program; Eligibility

Description:

Expands the preschool open door program's eligibility criteria.  Repeals the requirement that open door program providers be accredited.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 18

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2025

RE:    H.B. No. 692

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

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)  Expand the Preschool Open Doors Program's eligibility criteria; and

     (2)  Repeal the requirement that Preschool Open Doors Program providers be accredited.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing the effective date to January 1, 2026.

     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 H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1649

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 692

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the Preschool Open Doors program.

     More specifically, the measure:

     (1)  Expands the eligibility criteria for participation in the Preschool Open Doors program; and

     (2)  Repeals the accreditation requirement for Preschool Open Doors program providers.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; Executive Office on Early Learning; District 2 of the Hawaii County Council; City and County of Honolulu; Early Learning Board; Kamehameha Schools; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50; Parents and Children Together; American Association of University Women; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; Island Pediatrics of Honolulu; and numerous individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from three individuals.

     Your Committee finds that expanding the Preschool Open Doors program will help reduce financial barriers for community-based early learning programs, enable more parents and caregivers to participate in the workforce, and ensure that more children receive important early childhood development and learning experiences.  

     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 H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1154

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 692

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Expand the Preschool Open Doors Program's eligibility criteria; and

     (2)  Repeal the requirement that Preschool Open Doors Program providers be accredited.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; Department of Human Services; Executive Office on Early Learning; Early Learning Board; County of Honolulu Committee on the Status of Women; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu; Kamehameha Schools; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 50; Parents for Public Schools Hawaiʻi; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Hui for Excellence in Education; Puakalehua Early Learning Consortium; Parents and Children Together; AAUW of Hawaii; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Family Hui Hawaii; Kupuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and numerous individuals.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that reducing financial barriers to community-based early learning programs enables more parents and caregivers to participate in the workforce while ensuring their children receive the early childhood development and learning experiences critical to lifelong well-being.  Your Committee further finds that the Preschool Open Doors Program plays a crucial role in helping families afford quality child care by providing subsidies to eligible families to help pay preschool tuition.  This measure expands the eligibility criteria and removes the provider accreditation requirement for the Preschool Open Doors Program to allow more families to remain in the workforce, achieve greater economic stability, and provide a strong foundation for their keiki to grow and thrive.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2026; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  964

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 692

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Expand the Preschool Open Doors Program's eligibility criteria; and

     (2)  Repeal the requirement that Preschool Open Doors Program providers be accredited.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; Department of Human Services; Early Learning Board; Executive Office on Early Learning; Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu; Kamehameha Schools; Parents And Children Together; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Indivisible Hawaiʻi Statewide Network; Pride at Work - Hawaiʻi; American Association of University Women of Hawaii; Save Medicaid Hawaii; Kalaheo Elementary School PTSA; Hawaii Clubhouse Coalition; Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Early Childhood Action Strategy and Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  257

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 692

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 692 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Expand the Preschool Open Doors Program's eligibility criteria; and

     (2)  Repeal the requirement that Preschool Open Doors Program providers be accredited.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; Department of Human Services; Executive Office on Early Learning; Early Learning Board; Department of Community Services of the City and County of Honolulu; Indivisible Hawaiʻi; American Association of University Women of Hawaii; Early Childhood Action Strategy; PATCH Hawaii; Aloha United Way; Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!; Keiki O Ka ‘Āina Family Learning Centers; Holy Nativity School; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Kamehameha Schools; and numerous individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is facing a child care crisis, with the demand for quality, affordable early learning programs far exceeding available capacity.  Many families struggle to find openings for their young children, particularly for infants and toddlers, leaving parents with difficult choices between economic hardship or placing children in informal care settings that may lack developmentally appropriate learning opportunities.  This measure enables more parents and caregivers to participate in the workforce by reducing financial barriers to early learning programs, which will help their children receive the early childhood development and learning experiences critical to lifelong well-being.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the Preschool Open Doors Program shall continuously serve children who are in the three years prior to kindergarten entry until they enter kindergarten;

     (2)  Clarifying the types of child care programs that are eligible to participate in the Preschool Open Doors Program;

     (3)  Specifying that a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the Preschool Open Doors Program may share in the costs of the Program through a copayment based on need, rather than an amount of up to one dollar;

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 692, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 692, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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