State Rep. John Mizuno, D-30th (Kamehameha Heights, Kalihi Valley, Fort Shafter) will hold an informational briefing at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the state Capitol to discuss the effects of budget cuts on subsidized child care for families.

On Nov. 23, the state Department of Human Services proposed reducing the Hawaii Child Care Subsidy Program for families that would reduce subsidy payments to some families. A second hearing was held Dec. 4.
Tomorrow's hearing is to provide a forum for child care providers, guardians, and families who will be affected by the proposed reduction of preschool subsidies.
The state's plan calls for establishing a new 10-part scale that pays varying amounts to needy families or their providers for child care so that the parents can afford to go to work. The plan is to go in effect in February and enable parents and child care providers to apply for grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or the Salvation Army.
The state is moving away from a three-tier system of subsidy because the Department of Human Services says it would run out of money for the subsidies at the end of January under the current subsidy levels of 100 percent, 90 percent or 80 percent. Implementing the new subsidy scale would make the money last through June, when the fiscal year ends.
The state helps nearly 7,800 families with child care subsidies for children from birth to age 13. Subsidies can be as high as $1,395 a month and are available to families for licensed, center-based infant/toddler care. More than half the families, however, use relatives for child care.