STAND. COM. REP. NO. 127

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 371

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 371 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish a workforce readiness program within the Department of Education to allow students to graduate from an extended high school enrollment with an industry-recognized associate's degree to complement the student's high school diploma; and

 

     (2)  Appropriate funds for the development and implementation of the program, including the hiring of full-time positions.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Education, University of Hawaii System, Executive Office on Early Learning, Workforce Development Council, McKinley Community School for Adults, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that high school students in Hawaii would benefit from aligning educational curriculum to workforce readiness.  This alignment depends upon close collaboration between the public school system, a community college, and one or more industry employers near a school complex.  By establishing a workforce readiness program, this measure would ensure that students receive the industry-based skills and certification required for employment after graduation.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying that workforce readiness program schools shall provide opportunities for students to earn pre‑apprenticeship certificates and other industry‑recognized certificates that assess and document student readiness for a wide range of jobs in addition to an associate's degree; and

 

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 371, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 371, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

 

 

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair