Hawaii-2022-HB514-Amended

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii has one of the highest costs for child care in the nation. The annual tuition cost of many child care facilities in Hawaii exceeds the annual in-state tuition at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In many cases, the costs for child care for two children are as much as one full-time working parent would make in a year after taxes. Not surprisingly, in many families, one parent will leave the workforce to care for their children on a full-time basis instead of enrolling the children in child care.

The legislature further finds that more of Hawaii's children are entering kindergarten without the physical, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional skills necessary to prepare them for success in school life. The link between school readiness and success in school is indisputable. According to kindergarten teachers within the department of education, many of the children who do not attend pre‑kindergarten programs could be eighteen to twenty-four months behind developmentally compared to their peers who attend preschool.

The legislature also finds that the creation of on-site group child care centers by employers addresses concerns of child care costs while also providing access to early childhood learning programs. Employers who create on-site group child care centers may see greater employee retention and performance, lower absenteeism, and a more productive and positive workplace environment.

The legislature recognizes that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing requirements have been established to protect the health and safety of Hawaii residents. While slowing the spread of COVID-19, social distancing requirements have exacerbated the seat capacity of existing group child care centers. The creation of on-site group child care centers will help to increase seat capacity for more children and alleviate the strain the COVID-19 pandemic has on the existing facilities.

The purpose of this Act is to establish an income tax credit for employers who create on-site group child care centers to increase access to high-quality early childhood programs from child care to preschool and junior kindergarten.

SECTION 2. Chapter 235, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§235‑ On-site group child care center tax credit. (a) There shall be allowed to each taxpayer subject to the taxes imposed by this chapter, an income tax credit that shall be deductible from the taxpayer's net income tax liability, if any, imposed by this chapter for the taxable year in which the credit is properly claimed.

In the case of a partnership, S corporation, estate, or trust, the tax credit allowable shall be for qualified costs incurred by the entity for the taxable year. The cost upon which the tax credit is computed shall be determined at the entity level. Distribution and share of the credit shall be determined pursuant to section 704(b) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(b) Every taxpayer claiming a tax credit under this section, no later than ninety days following the end of each taxable year in which qualified costs were paid or incurred, shall submit to the department of taxation:

(1) A certificate of approval or similar document verifying compliance with state and county laws, rules, and ordinances pertaining to licensure for the on-site group child care center; and

(2) A statement of the qualifying costs.

(1) The total credit allowed for a taxpayer in any taxable year shall not exceed $ ;

(2) The on-site group child care center shall operate for a minimum of ten years or the credit may be recaptured; provided that the credit shall not be subject to recapture if the department of human services certifies that the employer ceased operating the facility for reasonable cause, including going out of business, being forced to close the facility due to a natural disaster or other unforeseeable circumstances, or closing the facility temporarily with the intention of reopening it for reasons such as facility refurbishment or improvement; and

(3) The total amount of tax credits allowed under this section shall not exceed $ for all taxpayers in any fiscal year. If the total amount of credits claimed under this section by all taxpayers in any fiscal year exceeds $ , the credit shall be allowed to taxpayers based on the date of certification by the department of human services on a first come, first served basis. Any taxpayer who is certified by the department of human services in a fiscal year and who is not eligible to claim the credit due to the $ cap having been exceeded for that fiscal year shall be eligible to claim the credit in the subsequent year and shall receive priority for the credit over taxpayers who receive certification in the subsequent fiscal year.

(d) If the tax credit under this section exceeds the taxpayer's net income tax liability, the excess of credits over payments due shall be refunded to the taxpayer; provided that no refunds or payments on account of the tax credits allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1.

(e) Every claim, including amended claims, for the tax credit under this section shall be filed on or before the end of the twelfth month following the close of the taxable year for which the tax credit may be claimed. Failure to comply with the foregoing provision shall constitute a waiver of the right to claim the credit.

(f) No taxpayer shall claim any other credit under this chapter for the same qualified costs used to properly claim a tax credit under this section for the taxable year.

(g) The director of taxation:

(1) Shall prepare any forms that may be necessary to claim a tax credit under this section;

(2) May require the taxpayer to furnish reasonable information to ascertain the validity of the claim for the tax credit made under this section; and

(3) May adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section.

(h) This section shall not apply to any amount paid or incurred before January 1, 2022.

(i) For the purposes of this section:

"Qualified costs" means the expenses incurred in acquiring, constructing, and establishing a qualified on-site group child care center and the associated operating costs; provided that qualified costs shall not include costs paid or incurred for insurance.

"Qualified on-site group child care center" means an on‑site group child care center, offered by an employer to all employees, that is:

(1) Licensed and approved by the department of human services; and

(2) Accredited by a recognized national early childhood accrediting agency within two years of initial operation."

SECTION 3. There is established one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) on-site group child care center coordinator position in the executive office on early learning to assist with licensure and accreditation requirements, work with providers, and ensure appropriate facility design of on-site group child care centers established by employers in the State.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2021-2022 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) on-site group child care center coordinator position in the executive office on early learning to assist with licensure and accreditation requirements, work with providers, and ensure appropriate facility design of on-site group child care centers established by employers in the State.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that section 2 shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	514
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII