STAND. COM. REP. NO.  227

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 1630

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1630 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to prepare students for the information technology age by providing a comprehensive project-based and student-centered learning program in which students are responsible for their own learning.  Specifically, this bill appropriates funds for a grant-in-aid to the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, Inc. (EDAH), to maintain its Project EAST Program (Program) in existing schools, and expand the Program to schools statewide.

     The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Department of Education Kauai Complex Area Schools, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Kauai Economic Development Board, Inc., Maui Economic Development Board, Inc., HC&S, Trex Hawaii, LLC, Advanced Materials, Molokai Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hoike Technology, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a member of the Maui County Council, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  EDAH and the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting the appropriation for a grant-in-aid to EDAH              and replacing it with an appropriation to be deposited        into the Hawaii 3Ts School Technology Laboratories Fund        established pursuant to section 302A-1314, Hawaii           Revised Statutes; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity,      consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1630, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1630, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair