STAND. COM. REP. NO. 672

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 522
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No.
522, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SCHOOL-TO-WORK
     OPPORTUNITIES PILOT PROJECT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to convert the Hawaii School-to-
Work Opportunities Executive Council (Council) to an advisory
body and to transfer its staff to the Department of Education
(DOE).

     The DOE and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
supported the concept of the bill, but expressed some concerns.
The DOE noted that any modification of the Council without
approval from the national School-to-Work Office may jeopardize
federal funding.  In this light, the DOE recommended maintaining
the current form and structure for the Council.

     Testifying in support of the concept of the bill, the
Council cited several concerns.  The Council suggested retaining
it as an independent body with its existing powers, but agreed to
transfer its staff to the Department of Education.  The
University of Hawaii testified in support of the Council's
recommendations.

     In its written testimony, the Hawaii State Teachers
Association supported the intent of the bill.  In oral testimony
it supported the concept of maintaining independence for the
Council.


 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 672
                                 Page 2

 
     The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii commented on the measure.

     In consideration of the testimony received, your Committee
has amended the bill by:

     (1)  Retaining the independence and authority of the Council
          by not transforming it into an advisory body; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive revisions for purposes
          of style and clarity.

     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 H.B. No.
522, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto
as H.B. No. 522, H.D. 2.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair