Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 432, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to continue the Millennium Workforce Development Training Program.

Your Committee finds that the Millennium Workforce Development Training Program was created to improve the skills of new and existing workers for jobs in new and emerging technology industries.

Your Committee is aware that new and emerging technology industries in Hawaii often are forced to import their workers because the State's existing workforce lacks the necessary skills for such employment.

Your Committee finds that a viable state-funded training program would lessen the need to import workers in such fields as biotechnology, health care, information technology, environmental science and technology, and telecommunications. Moreover, it would increase the opportunities for Hawaii's residents to move upward in the job market by improving their job skills.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 432, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 432, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.