Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Business and Economic Development and Labor and Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 183 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the convening of a task force to study economic development, workforce development, and the role of the University of Hawaii in the economic future of the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs.

Your Committees find that Hawaii's economic, social, and environmental future is dependent upon the reversal in the decline in Hawaii's average per capita income. Sustaining the growth of living wage jobs in emerging industries such as healthcare, bio-sciences, information technologies, and digital media is critical for Hawaii's economic future. An educated, highly skilled workforce is a key element in developing and sustaining a globally competitive economy.

Your Committees have amended this measure to request the University of Hawaii to form and lead the task force.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Business and Economic Development and Labor and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 183, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 183, S.D. 1.