Appropriates funds for the establishment of a post-high school vocational training program in Pahoa/Ka'u, island of Hawaii.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that rural communities throughout the state have been significantly impacted by the conditions of Hawaii's economy. The legislature further finds that the situation is especially critical in rural communities on the island of Hawaii. In recent years, the county of Hawaii has experienced the lowest per capital income levels in the entire state--nearly $4,000 less than the state average. Furthermore, with the demise of established businesses such as Hamakua Sugar Company (which at one point employed nearly ten per cent of the island's workers), employment opportunities in the county of Hawaii have often been hard to come by.

The legislature further finds that vocational education programs have been established to enhance the job skills of citizens who are currently out of work, as well as expand the collective employment opportunities of communities throughout the state.

In light of this, the legislature believes that the establishment of a vocational education program on the island of Hawaii will serve to improve the economic conditions of the county of Hawaii.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the establishment of a post-high school vocational education program in Pahoa and Ka'u, island of Hawaii, and to provide pre-employment and job skills training for dislocated, unemployed, and underemployed workers.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006 and $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for the offering of post-secondary vocational training programs to the residents of Pahoa and Ka'u, island of Hawaii; provided that the department is authorized to implement education and training programs through the community college system or other public and private nonprofit corporations.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.