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Committee adopts amended pilot to contract childcare seats for Preschool Open Doors program
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Summary
SB1609 SD1 was passed with amendments to allow DHS discretion to contract with licensed childcare providers so seats are available for the Preschool Open Doors program and to specify two types of providers per county where feasible.
The House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness passed SB1609 SD1 on March 11, 2025, directing the Department of Human Services to establish contracts with licensed childcare providers to reserve seats for families participating in the Preschool Open Doors program.
Testimony came from the Executive Office on Early Learning, the Department of Human Services, and advocacy groups including Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks. Michelle Davis of Hawaii Children’s Action Network told the committee that cost of childcare is a major barrier to survivors leaving abusive situations and urged expansion of affordable care.
DHS staff said they would rely on the procurement process to determine provider interest and asked the committee to make the requirement permissive where providers are not available. Chair Lisa Martin recommended adopting DHS’s suggestion to change a ‘‘shall’’ to ‘‘may’’ if no private partners are willing to participate, and to reinsert house language to specify one licensed infant/toddler classroom and one licensed group childcare center per county when feasible; the committee voted to pass the bill with these amendments and to add a June 30, 2028 sunset for the pilot program.
