HONOLULU, HI – The Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. to gather public comment on proposed amendments to Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 17-799, which governs the Preschool Open Doors (POD) Program. The amendments aim to conform to state statutes and facilitate program expansion.
The POD program, authorized under Section 346-181, Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides subsidies to eligible families to assist with preschool tuition costs. The proposed changes encompass various aspects of the program, including:
- Definitions: Adding, deleting, and amending terms to improve clarity.
- Application Periods: Modifying the timing and process of application periods, including priority and first-come, first-served processing. This includes deleting the requirement to issue a public notice and conduct at least one application period annually.
- Application Process: Addressing procedures when the department is not accepting applications and how applicants will be notified.
- Priority of Applications: Streamlining the priority application period and aligning income eligibility standards with 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, updated annually on February 1st, eliminating references to the State Median Income.
- Family Unit Eligibility: Establishing 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines as the income eligibility standard for families and introducing presumptive eligibility for families experiencing homelessness or domestic violence. This allows for two months of payments even without full documentation.
- Program Enrollment: Removing references to priority applicants and clarifying enrollment procedures.
- Program Qualifications for Preschools: Updating references to licensed and listed child care providers.
- Child Care Rates: Removing references to payments made prior to the 2024 – 2025 school year, and correcting references to Hawaiian-medium preschools.
- Family Co-payment: Amending the co-payment calculation method.
- Child Care Payments: Clarifying how child care payments are computed based on co-payment rates. This includes addressing registration fees and potential second payments in cases of electronic benefits theft.
- Waitlisted Applicants: Emphasizing that the waitlist is based on chronological order, not priority, when funds become available.
- Denial, Reduction, Suspension, or Termination: Clarifying the availability of multiple open application periods and exceptions for families experiencing homelessness or domestic violence regarding documentation.
- Insufficient Funds: Detailing circumstances under which the department can refuse new applications and clarifying payment termination or reduction procedures.
The public hearing will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams. Interested individuals can participate online with a computer, internet access, video camera, and microphone, or by telephone. To register, email BESSD.CCPO@dhs.hawaii.gov at least 48 hours in advance with your email, full name, and phone number. A meeting link and call-in number will be provided.
Written testimony can also be submitted via email to BESSD.CCPO@dhs.hawaii.gov or by mail to:
Department of Human Services
Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division
Child Care Subsidy Program Office
1010 Richards Street, Suite 512
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
All written testimony must be received by 4:30 p.m. on April 29, 2025.
A copy of the proposed rules is available on the DHS website: http://humanservices.hawaii.gov/admin-rules-2/proposed-rules/ or by emailing BESSD.CCPO@dhs.hawaii.gov.
Individuals requiring special accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter, large print materials, or taped materials, should request them at least five working days before the hearing by emailing BESSD.CCPO@dhs.hawaii.gov.
The DHS encourages all interested parties to participate in the public hearing and provide feedback on these important proposed amendments to the Preschool Open Doors Program.