THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

127

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

PROPOSED

S.D.1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

Requesting the Hawaii congressional delegation TO URGE CONGRESS TO AMEND THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT OF 1998.

 

WHEREAS, in 1998, the United States Congress passed the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) to provide workforce investment activities that increase the employment, retention, and earnings of individuals as well as increase their occupational skills; and

WHEREAS, under the WIA, federal funds are annually allotted to states for the operation of locally-administered job training programs; and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, these funds are administered by the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; and

WHEREAS, funding of the WIA is based upon three factors, the unemployment rate, excess unemployment, and the number of economically disadvantaged individuals; and

WHEREAS, because Hawaii's unemployment rate is lower than the national average it does not receive any funds for the "excess unemployment" portion of the funding formula; and

WHEREAS, studies indicate that approximately ten percent of Hawaii's workforce hold more than one job, compared to the national average of 5.4 percent; and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, due to the high cost of living, it becomes necessary for individuals to obtain employment in more than one job just to support themselves and their families; and

WHEREAS, individuals in Hawaii who are working multiple jobs and lose one or more of those jobs may not be eligible to receive unemployment benefits or WIA services, but would likely be unable to adequately support themselves and their families; and

WHEREAS, the current formula for funding the WIA does not work for Hawaii, as Hawaii's unemployment rate does not accurately reflect the extent of the needs of its workforce; and

WHEREAS, the issue in Hawaii, therefore, is its underemployment and the working poor; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii Congressional delegation is requested to urge the United States Congress to amend the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to:

(1) Increase Workforce Investment Act funding in areas where:

(a) The locally determined average living wage is at least one and one-half times the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines for that local area; and

(b) The working population that work more than one job are at least one and one-half times the national average; and

(2) Offer more Workforce Investment Act services for those living at or below the living wage standard; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, and the members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation.

 

Report Title:

Workforce Investment Act of 1998; Amended Poverty Levels for Hawaii