RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM.

SB3299

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3299

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to the Preschool open doors program
.

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

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SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that it is difficult
for the State to attract sufficiently qualified foster parents to care for
young foster children.
�
Added childcare
expenses further reduce the pool of suitable foster parents.
�
The legislature further finds that the
State's preschool open doors program provides subsidies to eligible families to
help pay preschool tuition, for up to two years prior to entering kindergarten.
�
Preschool and other early learning
opportunities help children gain essential skills, be prepared for school, and
chart a course for lifelong success.
�
The
legislature also finds that explicitly including foster children as eligible
participants in the preschool open doors program may help expand the pool of
potential foster parents for young foster children.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to:

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(1)
�
Clarify that the preschool open doors program
is open to all children, including children in foster care, who meet the
eligibility requirements of the program; and

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(2)
�
Expand the pool of potential foster parents
for young foster children by explicitly including authority for foster parents
to enroll their foster child in the preschool program.

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

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

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

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(2)
�
Require each
provider to conduct early learning assessments; and

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

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(b)
�

Subject to the availability of funds, the program shall continuously
serve children who are in the three years before kindergarten entry until they
enter kindergarten pursuant to section 302A
‑
411.

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(c)
�

A child care program chosen by a parent [
or
]
,
guardian
,
or foster parent
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;

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

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

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(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.

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(e)
�

Enrollment in the program shall be voluntary[
.
]
and shall be
open to all children, including children in foster care, who meet the age and
income eligibility requirements for the program.
�
A parent [
or
]
,
guardian
, or
foster parent
of a child enrolled in the program 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.

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(f)
�

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

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

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(2)
�
The interim rules
shall comply with a
ll
applicable state and federal laws; and

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

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(g)
�
For purposes of this section:

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"Foster care" has the
same meaning as in section 587A-4.

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"Foster parent" has the
same meaning as in section 587A-4.
"

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SECTION 3.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

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SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Preschool
Open Doors Program; Eligibility; Foster Children; Foster Parents

Description:

Clarifies
that the Preschool Open Doors Program is open to all children, including
children in foster care, who meet the eligibility requirements of the program.

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