THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

49

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

Proposed

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that despite having a high school graduation rate of eighty-one per cent, only fifty-six per cent of Hawaii's public school graduates continued on to post-secondary education in 2015.  The legislature further finds that high school students in Hawaii would benefit from precisely aligning curriculum to workforce readiness, which depends upon close collaboration between the public school system, a community college, and one or more industry employers near the school complex to ensure they receive the industry-based skills and certification required for post-graduation employment and to live, learn, work, and play in the community.

     Closing the skills gap is especially critical in the manufacturing industry.  Over the next decade, nearly 3,500,000 manufacturing jobs will likely need to be filled throughout the country, yet the skills gap is expected to result in 2,000,000 of these jobs remaining unfilled.  There are numerous contributing factors to this widening gap, including looming baby boomer retirements and economic expansion.  However, other contributing factors include loss of embedded knowledge due to movement of experienced workers; a perceived preference among younger generations for industries other than manufacturing; lack of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills among workers; and a gradual decline of technical education programs in public high schools.

     The legislature additionally finds that collaboration between educators and industry allows students to graduate from high school with a high school diploma and an industry-recognized associate's degree.  Students may also earn pre-apprenticeship certificates and other industry-recognized certificates in addition to an associate's degree.  The legislature also finds that similar models recently established in Connecticut, Illinois, and New York are showing promise in graduating more high school students with career-ready skills to meet an industry's workforce needs.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the department of education to collaborate with the workforce development council on workforce development initiatives.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-    Workforce development collaboration.  The department shall collaborate with the workforce development council on workforce development initiatives pursuant to section 202-2(b)."

     SECTION 3.  Section 202-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§202-2  Duties of council.  (a)  In accordance with P.L. 113-128 (29 U.S.C. 3111), the workforce development council shall assist the governor in:

     (1)  The development, implementation, and modification of the state plan consistent with P.L. 113-128 (29 U.S.C. 3112);

     (2)  The review of statewide policies, statewide programs, and recommendations on actions that should be taken by the State to align workforce development programs in a manner that supports a comprehensive and streamlined workforce development system in the State, including consideration of programs and activities of one-stop partners that are not core programs;

     (3)  The development and continuous improvement of the workforce development system in the State;

     (4)  The development and updating of comprehensive state performance accountability measures, including state adjusted levels of performance, to assess the effectiveness of the core programs in the State as required under P.L. 113-128 (29 U.S.C. 3141(b));

     (5)  The identification and dissemination of information on best practices for the effective operation of one-stop centers, and the development of effective local boards and effective training programs;

     (6)  The development and review of statewide policies affecting the coordinated provision of services through the State's one-stop delivery system;

     (7)  The development of strategies for technological improvements to facilitate access to, and improve the quality of, services and activities provided through the one-stop delivery system;

     (8)  The development of strategies for aligning technology and data systems across one-stop partner programs to enhance service delivery and improve efficiencies in reporting on performance accountability measures, including the design and implementation of common intake, data collection, case management information, and performance accountability measurement and reporting processes, and the incorporation of local input into such design and implementation, to improve coordination of services across one-stop partner programs;

     (9)  The development of allocation formulas for the distribution of funds for employment and training activities for adults, and youth workforce investment activities, to local areas as permitted under P.L. 113-128 (29 U.S.C. 3163(b)(3), 3173(b)(3));

    (10)  The preparation of annual reports as described in P.L. 113-128 (29 U.S.C. 3141(d));

    (11)  The development of the statewide workforce and labor market information system described in the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49l-2(e));

    (12)  The development of such other policies as may promote statewide objectives for, and enhance the performance of, the workforce development system;

    (13)  Creating public awareness and understanding of the State's workforce development plans, policies, programs, and activities, and promoting the plans, policies, programs, and activities as economic investments;

    (14)  Submitting annual reports of the council's activities and recommendations to the governor and the legislature, and posting the annual reports electronically on the council's website no later than twenty days before the convening of each regular session.  Annual reports shall include:

         (A)  The status of the comprehensive state plan for workforce development; and

         (B)  Information regarding the workforce development programs offered throughout the State, the number of individuals placed in high-demand or high-growth employment through workforce development programs by departments, the type or category of employment garnered, and allocations of state, federal, and other funding to achieve placements into higher-skilled jobs;

    (15)  Evaluating the state workforce development plan in terms of how its purposes, goals, and objectives have been carried out throughout the State;

    (16)  Providing technical assistance to local workforce development boards and other similar organizations;

    (17)  Carrying out required functions and duties related to workforce development of any advisory body required or made optional by federal legislation;

    (18)  The review and certification of local workforce boards and plans prepared by local workforce boards for the use of federal workforce development funds as provided in P.L. 113-128 (29 U.S.C. 3122(b)-(c)); and

    (19)  Commenting on the measures taken pursuant to section 122(c)(17) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, P.L. 109-270.

     (b)  The workforce development council shall collaborate with the department of education on workforce development initiatives to:

     (1)  Develop sector strategies and a career pathways system that will integrate education and training and move persons seeking jobs into growth industries by:

         (A)  Using economic data, industry clusters, and industry resources to determine growth industries and the skill needs of industries and employers;

         (B)  Establishing and maintaining initiatives that facilitate ongoing dialogue between government, employers, and other key stakeholders to increase understanding of growth industry needs and develop strategies to meet those needs;

         (C)  Focusing public resources on training that moves workers into industries with high-quality jobs that lead to better financial outcomes and longer job tenures for workers;

         (D)  Facilitating the development of common programs for individuals who choose to enroll in post secondary education and individuals who choose to develop employment skills through work experience or on-the-job training;

         (E)  Coordinating a common work assessment process between core partners;

         (F)  Implementing the employment first state mentoring program; and

         (G)  Maintaining the iCAN bridging program at the community schools for adults as a stepping stone to proceed into a career pathway leading to a work-readiness certificate or degree; and

     (2)  Engage employers in the workforce development system by:

         (A)  Improving employer use of the participant management information system by:

              (i)  Promoting the benefits of using the system;

             (ii)  Providing training in the system; and

            (iii)  Making improvements to the system for the purpose of user friendliness;

         (B)  Expanding employer involvement with program design to improve access to jobs;

         (C)  Focusing on short- and long-term goals aligned with industry needs, created with industry input, and sustained through industry oversight and participation; and

         (D)  Establishing core partner teams.

     (c)  The workforce development council shall submit a report to the senate committee on education, senate committee on higher education, house of representatives committee on education, and house of representatives committee on higher education ninety days prior to the start of each regular session on the progress of workforce development initiatives pursuant to subsection (b)."

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 


 


 

Report Title:

Department of Education; Workforce Development Council; Workforce Development Initiatives

 

Description:

Requires the Department of Education to collaborate with the Workforce Development Council on workforce development initiatives.  (Proposed SD1)

 

 

 

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