Report Title:

Good Beginnings Alliance; Budget

Description:

Requires the Department of Human Services to include annual funding in the state budget for the Good Beginnings Alliance; makes appropriation.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

961

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO GOOD BEGINNINGS ALLIANCE.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Good Beginnings Alliance, established in response to Act 77, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997 (Act 77), is a public-private partnership charged with the responsibility for improving early childhood outcomes through the development of quality early childhood education and care and related family support services. Specifically, the Good Beginnings Alliance develops policy recommendations concerning all aspects of a coordinated early childhood education and care system, and ensures forward and strategic movement with partners — families, communities, providers, and policy makers - who share a commitment to the goal of all children in Hawaii starting school safe, healthy, and ready to succeed.

The legislature further finds that Act 77 called for a four-year demonstration project which would sunset on June 30, 2001; however, Act 60, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, extended the sunset to June 30, 2010, in response to a recommendation by the joint legislative committee on early childhood education and care established pursuant to H.C.R. No. 120, 1998 that Act 77 be made permanent. As stated in section 1 of Act 60, "The joint legislative committee recommended that, among other things, the legislature make good beginnings alliance a permanent coordinating structure that cuts across existing social service systems to coordinate early childhood services for families and young children. The legislature believes that through the good beginnings alliance, it will be able to continue to monitor the development of a coordinated system that is dedicated to enhancing and developing early childhood education and care services."

A recent example of the continued efficacy and vitality of the Good Beginnings Alliance, is the cooperative effort with the department of education and the University of Hawaii to create a seamless education system through a program called "United for Learning: The Hawaii P-20 Initiative". The program will create a seamless system to boost student achievement by getting all children off to a good start by raising academic standards, by conducting relevant assessments, by placing competent and caring teachers in all classrooms, and by smoothing students' transition from each learning level to the next.

The purpose of this Act is to require annual funding for the program provided by the Good Beginnings Alliance, and to make an appropriation for the current fiscal year.

SECTION 2. Act 77, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, section 2, as amended by Act 60, Session Laws of Hawaii 2000, as amended by Act 13, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002, is amended by amending section    -5(a) of section 2 to read as follows:

"(a) [Subject to the availability of funds, the] The corporation and the interdepartmental council, in the spirit of a public and private partnership, shall jointly review and approve the community plan presented by a community council and determine funding levels for each community council. The legislature shall annually appropriate grant funds for the corporation to carry out its responsibilities under this chapter. The department of human services shall include in its budget request for each upcoming fiscal period, the amounts necessary for the corporation to effectuate the purposes of this chapter. The interdepartmental council shall suggest the disbursement of public funds through the appropriate departments represented on the council."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004 and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for the Good Beginnings Alliance to carry out its statutory responsibilities.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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