Establishes the Rapid Response Development and Training Program (Program) within the community college system. Appropriates funds for the Program and the establishment of a Construction Academy within the University of Hawaii. (HB2180 HD2)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PART I

SECTION 1. Career and technical education, including apprenticeship education and job upgrade training, have been an integral component of the community college system of the University of Hawaii (community college system) since 1964. The community college system presently serves as the state's major resource in preparing and re-educating Hawaii's workforce in these changing economic times offering short-term training, certificates, and associate degree programs in more than one hundred twenty specialty areas. In addition, the employment training center of the community college system has developed considerable knowledge and expertise in working with hard-to-serve non-traditional students in a focused job preparation setting. This development has significantly improved the state's ability to provide a skilled workforce in many different fields.

Recent closings of businesses with a long history in Hawaii, as well as the closing of many plantations, including the recent announcement that the Del Monte Corporation will soon cease pineapple operations on Oahu and Kauai, has created a need for a shifting of the skilled labor force. Rapid response to these types of incidences that allow for the expeditious training of workers in other skills that will allow them to return to the labor market is paramount. Providing vocational and industrial training, including training in new and innovative industries, promotes a healthy and productive society and will continue to serve to strengthen our economy.

The purpose of this part is to statutorily establish a rapid response development and training program within the community college system of the University of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Chapter 305, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part . RAPID RESPONSE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAM

§305-A Purpose. The purpose of this part is to establish a rapid response development and training program in the State and to determine the extent to which the employment needs of individuals can be met by either job training, a public service job, or a combination of both.

§305-B Establishment of program. (a) There is established within the community college system, a rapid response development and training program for the various industries in the state. The training program shall assist those unemployed and underemployed persons who cannot reasonably be expected to obtain suitable full-time employment without the benefit of training. Instruction and training shall be provided by the department of education, the community college system, the Manoa and Hilo campuses of the University of Hawaii, or other suitable agencies. Where a need is indicated to overcome barriers to possible training, the community college system, either on its own or in cooperation with the various departments and agencies of the state and county governments and private industry, may arrange for transportation, child care, health care, and other aids to employment. The community college system may also formulate and implement a program providing useful public service employment to unemployed persons other than public assistance recipients.

(b) The department of human services may formulate and implement a program providing useful public service employment to public assistance recipients. Refusal to accept suitable work as determined by the department of human services without justifiable reasons shall render an unemployed or underemployed recipient ineligible for public assistance.

§305-C Contracts; public and private sectors. (a) The community college system may enter into contracts for manpower development and training with the department of education, the Manoa and Hilo campuses of the University of Hawaii, or other public agencies.

(b) The community college system may enter into contracts with organizations in the private sector for manpower training and job placement of unemployed persons. The private employer shall pay the person an amount equal to the minimum wage, and the State may pay the difference, if any, between the minimum wage and the prevailing wage, as determined by the State, in the applicable private sector for a similar position during the contract period for such manpower training.

(c) The community college system shall formulate standards and adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this section.

§305-D Administration. (a) The community college system may plan and administer manpower development and training programs under this part with the advice of the workforce development council.

(b) The community college system shall employ persons in each county for purposes of coordinating the rapid response development and training program for the community college system within the particular county.

§305-E Funds. The State shall provide funds to cover training costs, including instructors' salaries, equipment, and supplies. The State shall also provide funds to cover costs of each coordinator position established under section 305-D.

§305-F Type of training. Training is to be undertaken for those occupations for which there is reasonable expectation of employment upon completion of training, with priority given to growth industries, including electronics, software, instrumentation, biotechnology, renewable energy, telecommunications, computers, mariculture, aquaculture, tropical agriculture, Hawaiian natural products, and space applications, including astronomical research.

§305-G New industry training program. (a) There is established the new industry training program, within the rapid response development and training program established under section 305-B, which shall be administered by the community college system. Program moneys may be used:

(b) The community college system shall use the resources of the University of Hawaii, the high technology development corporation, and other educational and training resources in the public and private sectors throughout the state as may be appropriate to provide pre-employment, employment, or on-the-job training for local residents hired by businesses that are relocating to Hawaii or expanding their local operations. To provide the training, the community college system may contract with public agencies, including the various University of Hawaii campuses, private educational institutions, nonprofit corporations, or private entities.

§305-H Eligibility requirements. (a) To be eligible for state-assisted training or retraining under section 305-G, businesses shall:

(b) The community college system may adopt rules to promote economic expansion within the state by further identifying the businesses and industries that qualify for services and the job positions and persons that are eligible for training under this part and may consult with the department of business, economic development, and tourism prior to issuing these rules."

SECTION 3. Chapter 305, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by designating sections 305-1 to 305-5 as part I and inserting a title before section 305-1 to read as follows:

"PART I. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS"

SECTION 4. 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 2006-2007 to establish a rapid response development and training program within the community college system of the University of Hawaii.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 5. In an effort to address the significant shortage of employees in Hawaii's construction industry, the construction academy is a partnership among the University of Hawaii community colleges, the public high schools, unions, and industry representatives in Hawaii's building and construction industry. The goal is to increase the number of high school graduates entering construction careers by establishing a construction academy that teaches multiple disciplines in a small learning community environment, including the integration of technical skills training with the related areas of math, reading, and job readiness or employability skills or both, and to articulate this training with certificate and degree programs at the community colleges, thereby allowing students to earn dual credit for construction academy classes taken in high school.

SECTION 6. 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 2006-2007 to establish a construction academy within the University of Hawaii.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 7. In codifying the new part added to chapter 305, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 8. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.