Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2180 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to improve the delivery of manpower training and development by:

The Pacific Resource Partnership testified in support of the intent of this bill. The Office of Economic Development of the County of Kauai, County of Hawaii Workforce Investment Board, Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, and Hawaii Government Employees Association opposed this measure. The Department of the Attorney General, DLIR, and University of Hawaii submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that the recent closure of several businesses with longstanding ties to our state and a rapidly changing global economy have caused a tremendous shift in Hawaii's job market. The recent announcement by the Del Monte Corporation that it will cease operations of its pineapple plantations on Oahu and stories of the effects these closures will have on long-time plantation workers highlight the need for a program that will enable a rapid response to retrain and develop this workforce.

Hawaii's construction industry is also experiencing a resurgence, with the labor force unable to keep up with the employment demand. This situation is expected only to worsen with increases in residential and military construction on the horizon. Hawaii must prepare its workforce to meet the demands of a booming economy, especially in the field of construction.

Your Committee finds that through the establishment of a Construction Academy (Academy) within the University of Hawaii, especially one that includes training in the latest construction technologies and environmentally friendly building practices, we will ensure that Hawaii has a knowledgeable and skilled construction workforce trained in "green building" principles that will assist in the preservation of our environment.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and replacing it with language that:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2180, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2180, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.