Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2180, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish two new programs within the University of Hawaii community college system.

The bill establishes the Rapid Response Development and Training Program and a Construction Academy, and appropriates funds for their establishment. Specifically, the Rapid Response Development and Training Program will assist unemployed and underemployed persons who cannot reasonably be expected to obtain suitable full-time employment without the benefit of training. The Construction Academy, on the other hand, will be a public and private sector partnership whose goal is to increase the number of high school graduates entering construction careers, by teaching multiple disciplines in a small learning community environment.

The University of Hawaii submitted testimony in support of the measure, recommending that certain language in the bill be revised and noting that they would be willing to work with the Committee in making the revisions. Testimony in support of this measure was also received from the County of Kauai, the Hawaii Business Roundtable, the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., and the Pacific Resource Partnership.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2180, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.