HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2186

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO DISLOCATED SUGAR WORKERS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the imminent transition of thirty-six thousand acres of farmland on Maui from sugar production to diversified agriculture will powerfully affect the State's economy and permanently alter Maui's workforce environment.  Layoffs of sugar workers are expected to begin in March 2016 and continue until all six hundred seventy-five workers are laid off by the end of the year.  While many of the agriculture-related jobs lost due to cessation of sugar production will be restored once diversified agricultural production begins, they will require different skill sets and even those that are eventually restored will not be available until full diversified agriculture production is underway, which may take several years.

     The legislature finds that retraining Maui's sugar workforce is critical to the State's economy and will help mitigate the effects of mass job loss on surrounding businesses and the community.

The purpose of this Act is to assist the department of labor and industrial relations in providing job training and retraining to dislocated sugar workers by directing the department to seek all possible assistance from the federal Department of Labor and appropriating funds for the department of labor and industrial relations' Maui workforce development division office.

     SECTION 2.  The department of labor and industrial relations shall seek all available assistance from the federal Department of Labor to conduct workforce development, worker training and retraining, and other dislocated worker assistance programs for workers affected by the cessation of sugar production on Maui.   The department shall pursue any grant funding opportunities that may be available from the federal Department of Labor, including from the Employment and Training Administration, and may provide any matching funds required for grant eligibility.

The department, through the workforce development division's Maui office, shall assist and coordinate with the Maui county office of economic development to implement assistance programs pursuant to this Act.

     SECTION 3.  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 2016-2017 for workforce development, worker training and retraining, and other dislocated worker assistance programs for workers affected by the cessation of sugar production on Maui; provided that funds appropriated may be used as matching or leverage funds required as a condition of eligibility for federal or other assistance grants and for coordination with and assistance to the Maui county office of economic development.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.



Report Title:

Workforce Development; Dislocated Workers; Maui County; Appropriation

 

Description:

Directs and appropriates funds for the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide workforce development, worker training and retraining, and other dislocated worker assistance programs for workers affected by the cessation of sugar production on Maui.  (HB2186 HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.