Report Title:
Workforce Development Strategic Planning Committee
Description:
Establishes the workforce development task force to review and analyze the State's workforce development programs and to develop a detailed strategic plan for workforce development in the State. Requires the plan to be submitted to the legislature and the governor before the 2004 legislature. Requires the departments to annually report on their respective workforce development programs. (SD1)
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
837 |
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TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to workforce development.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State's economic future is dependent upon the quality of its workforce. Over the years, several programs have been initiated to improve workforce development in Hawaii and meet the needs of the private sector. The private sector fuels the State's economy and is in need of qualified and skilled employees. Therefore, workforce development programs should be developed and implemented in a manner that ensures the private sector has extensive participation and obtains the greatest benefit possible.
The State, through its various agencies, expend between eighty to one-hundred million dollars in federal, state, and county funding on workforce development programs. However, the private sector, especially small businesses, continues to express dissatisfaction with the delays in accessing workforce training services and funding and with the overall quality of skills possessed by Hawaii's workforce, which, when compared to comparable jurisdictions, has been identified as being high on the low-skills end at forty-four per cent and lower on the high-skills end at eighteen per cent. The State's workforce training programs, considering the amount of funding available, should result in Hawaii's workforce possessing higher skill levels, which in turn results in higher paying jobs.
PART I
SECTION 2. The purpose of this part is to require the state departments that provide workforce development programs to annually report on their respective programs.
SECTION 3. Chapter 202, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§202- Report on workforce development programs. (a) The department of labor and industrial relations, University of Hawaii, department of human services, department of education, department of public safety, and department of business, economic development, and tourism shall annually report to the governor, legislature, and the workforce development council on the programs being offered, the number of individuals that have been placed in employment through their respective workforce development programs, and the type or category of employment garnered."
PART II
SECTION 4. The purpose of this part is to establish a collaborative partnership among the government, private sector, community, and policy makers to ensure that funding for workforce development is maximized to produce a highly skilled workforce in Hawaii.
SECTION 5. Workforce development task force. (a) There is established within the office of the governor, on a special and temporary basis, the workforce development task force, until December 31, 2003, at which time the task force shall cease to exist. The operations of the task force shall be funded, as practicable, by the members of the task force.
(b) The task force shall be comprised of twenty-three members appointed by the governor as follows:
(1) Seven members representing private sector businesses selected by regional economic development boards, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, National Federation of Independent Business – Hawaii, and other small business organizations in Hawaii;
(2) One member from each of the following state agencies representing workforce development programs: department of labor and industrial relations, University of Hawaii, department of human services, department of education, department of public safety, and department of business, economic development, and tourism;
(3) The chair of the senate standing committee on economic development or a designee selected by the president of the senate;
(4) The chair of the house of representatives standing committee on economic development or a designee selected by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(5) The chair of the senate standing committee on labor or a designee selected by the president of the senate;
(6) The chair of the house of representatives standing committee on labor or a designee selected by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(7) One member representing the State's high technology industry;
(8) One member representing the public sector unions;
(9) One member representing the private sector unions;
(10) One member representing public school students nominated by Hawaii state student council and other recognized public school organizations;
(11) One member representing private school students nominated by the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools and other recognized private school organizations; and
(12) One member with experience in developing and implementing public-private workforce training or student entrepreneurship programs.
The representative of the department of business, economic development, and tourism, shall serve as the chair of the task force.
SECTION 6. Duties of the task force. (a) The task force shall:
(1) Review and analyze all workforce development programs of the State;
(2) Recommend priorities for workforce development programs in the State;
(3) Identify strategic goals of workforce development programs, including the number of highly skilled workers that shall be produced and by when they shall be produced;
(4) Develop a specific and detailed strategic plan for workforce development in the State that shall address:
(A) Educating the private sector about state, federal, and private financial assistance available for workforce development;
(B) Facilitating access to workforce development resources by reducing regulatory burdens for employers and employees;
(C) Creating and improving educational opportunities for individuals to learn and develop new skills, including mentoring, project-based learning, and internships;
(D) Assisting public schools in developing curriculum to prepare students for employment in the private sector; and
(E) Changing and improving existing state programs, including recommending the elimination of ineffective programs, as well as, creating additional programs to improve workforce development; and
(5) Identify the resources required, obstacles that need to be overcome, and best practice models that should be adopted in implementing the strategic plan.
The strategic plan required under paragraph (4), shall include a detailed budget with a justification for each expenditure. In addition, the department of labor and industrial relations, University of Hawaii, department of human services, department of education, department of public safety, and department of business, economic development, and tourism shall include in the strategic plan a report on the programs being offered, the number of individuals that have been placed in employment through their respective workforce development programs, and the type or category of employment garnered.
(b) The task force shall submit the strategic plan and a report of findings and recommendations, including recommended legislation, concerning workforce development in the State to the legislature and the governor no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2004.
PART III
SECTION 7. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.