HI HCR131

Urges state departments and agencies to include dedicated day care facilities for both adults and children when designing state buildings that will employ or house 250 or more persons.

Hawaii's childcare costs are among the highest nationally, with center-based infant care averaging approximately $22,585 annually and toddler care averaging $17,925—exceeding 20% of median household income versus the federal affordability benchmark of 7%.

Licensed childcare providers currently serve only about 19,597 children under age five, while over 56,000 children under five have all parents working, meaning only one-third of children needing care can access licensed providers.

High costs of land, construction, and commercial leases represent major barriers to expanding childcare and adult day care services, which integrating facilities into state buildings could help address.

Encourages state agencies to establish partnerships with licensed childcare and adult day care providers to operate services within state facilities and to integrate dedicated care spaces into capital improvement projects.