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 S.B. No. 733, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to fix the employer assessment rate for the employment and training fund at .05 per cent of taxable wages as of January 1, 2002.

Your Committee finds that the employment and training fund program is a successful one and should be made permanent. Increasingly, companies are recognizing the importance of training. They deem lack of skills a barrier to their growth. The rapid growth of the employment and training fund indicates that Hawaii employers strongly believe in upgrading their workforce.

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 S.B. No. 733, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.