Appropriates funds for Kauai Community College.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that investments in college and universities have a positive and long-lasting impact on the overall health of the state. The legislature further finds that the University of Hawaii system serves thousands of local residents through their community college programs, allowing graduates to remain in their communities as an active and contributing workforce. To meet the needs of a growing and diversified population, the community colleges have established sound academic programs and continue to advance technologically and professionally.

Fundamental to Kauai community college's ability to respond to the challenges of economic and workforce growth is adequate infrastructure, particularly in equipment replacement. Career and technical programs, such as electronics and nursing, have been especially hard pressed by the budget reductions of the past decade and Kauai community college must be able to train students on the kind of equipment used in the field. In the area of information technologies, all operations of the college, from facilities maintenance to academic support and instruction, are dependent upon reliable computing support and high-speed connections to centralized databases located on Oahu. Sufficient computer hardware, software, and training support are essential tools on the campus.
Among the pressing needs of both the county and the state is the shortfall in qualified teachers for local public and private schools. Kauai community college has partnered with sister University of Hawaii campuses to encourage more students to choose a career in education. By bringing these opportunities to Kauai through distance learning technologies, the University of Hawaii has greatly increased the ability of local residents to stay in their own communities and still pursue a teaching career. To grow this effort, the college requires a dedicated staff who can actively recruit, counsel, and support youth who are choosing a career direction, as well as adults, who are contemplating a career change.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate greatly-needed funds to Kauai community college for their operational expenses.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $411,512 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 for the following expenses relating to the University of Hawaii's Kauai community college:

A. Increased teacher preparation $55,000

Total funding $55,000

B. Improve technological infrastructure and staffing

1. One permanent IT computer specialist $47,880

2. Educational supplies $20,000

3. Non-inventory equipment $62,226

Total funding $130,106

C. Equipment replacement

1. Non-inventory equipment $150,000

2. Educational equipment $76,406

Total funding $226,406

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the Kauai community college for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.