The Keiki Credit (HB1662): Proposal for a “Keiki Credit” that would assist more Hawaiʻi families in covering essential expenses like food, housing, school supplies and childcare, while setting our most precious resource—our keiki—up for economic and personal success throughout their lifetimes. HB1662 Died.
Early Intervention Services Salary Increases (HB1800/SB2234): Proposal for salary increases for Early Intervention Services specialists that provide critical services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and cognitive and social and emotional supports for keiki birth to 3 years old. Hawaiʻi currently has a 25-30% vacancy rate in this field and salary rates are one of the leading reasons. The salary increases will not only recruit new specialists, but retain the ones we have. HB1800 is awaiting Governor’s signature. It includes the 4.9M request for EIS salary increases.
Child Care Worker Wage Supplement (HB1964/SB2603): Proposal to have the Department of Human Services establish a program to provide stipends and bonuses to all licensed/regulated child care programs to supplement staff wages and improve recruitment and retention of early childhood care and education professionals. HB1964 and SB2603 Died.
Contracted Classrooms (HB2535): Proposal for the Department of Human Services to run a 2-year pilot program in each county to contract with infant/toddler or group childcare centers for classrooms, and innovate a funding model that gives stability to providers and increases access for families with subsidies. HB2535 Died.
Early Learning Facilities (HB2398/HB1903/SB3087): Proposal to amend the Pre-Plus statute to allow early learning programs to operate on state property in addition to those on DOE campuses, and to open it to all children not eligible for kindergarten. SB3087 awaiting Governor’s signature.
Peer-Support Specialists (HB2405/SB3094): Proposal to establish within the office of wellness and resilience a working group to develop and make recommendations for a framework for peer-support specialists in the State. SB3094 is awaiting Governor’s signature.
Other bills that we were following, but did not provide Commit to Keiki testimony:
State of Well-Being Project (SB3279): Mandates the Office of Wellness and Resilience to assess, enhance, and establish mental health and well-being projects in our communities. SB3279 is awaiting Governor’s signature.
Preschool Open Doors (HB2427/ SB3116): Establishes application of selection priorities for program participation in Preschool Open Doors (POD) through the annual POD application period that occurs prior to the program year, and continuous enrollment on a first-come, first-served basis once the program year has started. SB3116 is awaiting Governor’s signature.
Applied Behavioral Analysis (HB2712/SB3001): Increases funding for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) services for persons with autism. HB2712 Died.
Mental Health Provisional Licensure (HB1830): Establishes provisional or associate-level licensure requirements for marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and psychologists and authorizes insurance reimbursements in certain circumstances; authorizes psychologist license applicants who possess a provisional license to sit for the licensing examination before completing certain supervised experience requirements; and authorizes insurance reimbursements for services provided by a supervised social work intern in certain circumstances. HB1830 is awaiting Governor’s signature.
Paid Family Leave (SB2474): Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2028, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program. SB2474 Died.
