STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1561

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1630

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1630, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds through the Hawaii 3Ts School Technology Laboratories Fund for the project EAST program to prepare students for high technology jobs.

     Your Committee received comments in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the Attorney General, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, 3D Innovations LLC, Global Brain Inc., NovaSol, and two concerned citizens.

     Your Committee finds that project EAST (environmental and spatial technology) assists Hawaii's students by helping them develop important critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills that are necessary in high technology-based jobs.  Project EAST prepares students by providing a comprehensive project-based and student-centered learning program where students are responsible for their own learning.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

(1)  Clarifying that matching funds are provided pursuant to section 302A-1314(p), relating to the Hawaii 3Ts School Technology Laboratories Fund;

(2)  Clarifying language with respect to allowing the administration of the funds to be implemented in partnership with county economic development boards, as appropriate;

     (3)  Adding fiscal year 2008-2009 to the appropriation; and

(4)  Making technical amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1630, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1630, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair