SB887 SD1

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	887
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that it is vital for the State to attract more interested and educated individuals to enter various trade industries, meet industry workforce demands, and fill openings that are vacated by retiring trade workers. The construction academy was established within the community colleges under Act 234, Session Laws of Hawaii 2006, to provide trade pre-apprenticeship programs in an attempt to meet the critical shortfalls in the construction labor workforce and generate student interest in the construction industry.

Student interest can also be generated at the secondary education levels by cooperating with programs such as the construction academy and other various trade apprenticeship programs statewide to integrate pre-apprenticeship programs in public high schools. This cooperative program has the potential of providing further participation in trade apprenticeship programs after high school and meeting industry workforce demands.

The purpose of this Act is to expand student interest in the various trade industries by establishing a five-year pilot program within the department of education to develop and establish trade pre-apprenticeship programs at Hawaii public high schools that emphasize applied learning and experiential learning, and appropriate funds for the department to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the department of education a five-year pilot program to provide trade pre‑apprenticeship programs in Hawaii public high schools that emphasize applied learning and experiential learning.

(b) The department of education, with the assistance of and cooperation from the department labor and industrial relations and the department of accounting and general services, shall establish trade pre-apprenticeship programs in public high schools that will:

(1) Create partnerships with the construction academy established under section 304A-1142, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and other trade apprenticeship programs throughout the State;

(2) Engage students in learning through the integration of core curriculum subjects and trade apprenticeship courses;

(3) Allow enrolled students to work on minor repair and maintenance projects at their school and at other state facilities; and

(4) Provide enrolled students the opportunity to gain practical experience in the various trade industries, to work closely with and under the supervision of qualified trade industry professionals, and, if applicable, to earn credit in trade apprenticeship programs outside of the high school program.

(c) The department of education shall submit interim reports of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session from 2008 to 2011, and a final report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2012.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for the department of education to establish a five-year pilot program that will provide trade pre‑apprenticeship programs in Hawaii public high schools that emphasize applied and experiential learning.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007, and shall be repealed on December 31, 2011.