1. (a) There is established within the department of education for administrative purposes only an early learning board, whose members shall be appointed by the governor pursuant to section 26-34. The board shall have power, in accordance with law, to formulate statewide policy relating to early learning. The board shall be responsible for:

   1. (1) Directing the office on how best to meet the developmental and educational needs of children, from prenatal care to entry into kindergarten;
   2. (2) Providing recommendations to the office on improving the quality, availability, and coordination of early learning programs;
   3. (3) Promoting collaboration across agencies and stakeholders serving young children; and
   4. (4) Appointing the director of the office and evaluating the director on an annual basis.

2. (b) The board shall consist of the following voting members:

   1. (1) One voting member from the county of Hawaii;
   2. (2) One voting member from the county of Maui;
   3. (3) One voting member from the county of Kauai;
   4. (4) Three voting members from the city and county of Honolulu; and

   5. (5) Three at-large voting members;

      provided that one voting member shall have experience as a local provider of early childhood education and development services.

      The superintendent of education, director of human services, director of health, president of the university of Hawaii, and director of the Hawaii head start state collaboration office shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the board.

      The board shall invite the chief executive officer of Kamehameha Schools, the executive director of the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and president of the Head Start Association of Hawaii, or their designees, to serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the board.

3. (c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the governor shall set the terms of the voting members initially appointed to the board as follows:

   1. (1) Three voting members shall serve one-year terms;
   2. (2) Three voting members shall serve two-year terms; and

   3. (3) Three voting members shall serve three-year terms;

      provided that the term of the voting members shall be three years, except as provided for in the initial appointment in this subsection; provided further that voting members shall serve no more than three consecutive three-year terms; provided further that the voting members who are initially appointed to terms of two years or less pursuant to this subsection may be reappointed to three ensuing consecutive three-year terms. If a voting member is nominated to a second or subsequent consecutive term, the senate shall consider the question of whether to reconfirm the voting member at least one hundred twenty days prior to the expiration of the voting member's immediately preceding term; provided that if the senate has not taken final action to reconfirm the voting member by the one hundred twenty-day deadline, the voting member may continue to serve until the senate takes final action on the reconfirmation.

4. (d) Every voting member may serve beyond the expiration date of the voting member's term of appointment until the voting member's successor has been appointed by the governor or confirmed by the senate.
5. (e) The board shall select a chairperson by a majority vote of its voting members. A majority of the voting members serving on the board shall constitute a quorum to conduct business. The concurrence of the majority of the voting members serving on the board shall be necessary to make any action of the board valid.

6. (f) The board may form workgroups and subcommittees, including with individuals who are not board members, to:

   1. (1) Obtain resource information from early learning professionals and other individuals as deemed necessary by the board;
   2. (2) Make recommendations to the board; and

   3. (3) Perform other functions as deemed necessary by the board to fulfill its duties and responsibilities.

      Two or more board members, but less than a quorum, may discuss matters relating to official board business in the course of their participation in a workgroup or subcommittee, and such discussion shall be a permitted interaction as provided for in section 92-2.5.

7. (g) The board may testify before the legislature on any matter related to its duties and responsibilities.
8. (h) Members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

[L 2012, c 178, pt of §2; am L 2017, c 202, §4; am L 2021, c 173, §§1, 3; am L 2022, c 109, §14; am L 2023, c 170, §2; am L 2025, c 205, §1]