STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1291

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

 

RE:   S.B. No. 298

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred S.B. No. 298, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to provide high school students with career-ready skills by:

 

(1)  Establishing within the Department of Education (DOE) a Workforce Readiness Program (Program) that will, among other things, enable qualifying students to graduate with a high school diploma and an industry-recognized associate's degree;

 

(2)  Requiring DOE to coordinate with the University of Hawaii (UH) and enter into contracts with industry employers near the school complex to develop and implement the Program; and

 

(3)  Appropriating funds to the Program, including for the hiring of full-time equivalent staff positions.

 

     The Hawaii State Teachers Association and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Department of Education and the University of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying that certificate programs under the Workforce Readiness Program includes license programs;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Education to coordinate with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, in addition to the University of Hawaii, when entering into contracts with participating industrial employers; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 298, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 298, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair