THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	113
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE EDUCATIONAL WORKFORCE WORKING GROUP TO CONTINUE ITS WORK TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSED IN ITS 2007 REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE.

     WHEREAS, the Educational Workforce Working Group was created by Act 283, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, to examine and address various issues relating to workforce needs and methods for increasing the workforce supply in the State; and

     WHEREAS, in 2007, the Educational Workforce Working Group prepared and submitted a report to the Legislature, which included seven sets of recommendations with twenty-five action steps; and

     WHEREAS, the Working Group expressed a willingness to continue its work to plan and implement those recommendations that can be initiated by its constituent member organizations; and

     WHEREAS, the Working Group needs to develop plans of action to include legislation that would galvanize efforts that are beyond the scope of its constituent member organizations; and

     WHEREAS, many of the recommendations of the Working Group are critical to the development of a competent, appropriate, and available workforce that will support economic development and diversification, but implementation of these recommendations will not occur without an organized effort to plan, initiate, and promote that development; and

     WHEREAS, some of the recommendations of the Working Group focus on initiating mechanisms that create the conditions, such as unique identifiers, a community-business education exchange effort, and creating a website, that allow for the implementation and development of the other recommendations; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is requested to continue to provide the administrative function for the Educational Workforce Working Group; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to continue its work to initiate and implement the recommendations made in its 2007 report to the Legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to initiate an assessment system that will evaluate the effectiveness of Hawaii's educational programs and reforms, including:

     (1)  A review of ongoing efforts towards student tracking; and

     (2)  The efficacy of the assignment of unique identifiers that will allow the tracking of public school graduates into higher education, post high school training programs, and/or the workforce; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to specifically work on creating a community-business education exchange program that will develop a statewide initiative to partner schools with businesses, community groups, and organizations to promote resource, expertise, and manpower assistance, mentorships, internships, and sponsoring of programs to increase students' knowledge, interest, experience, and skills in future careers and shall attach the community-business education exchange program to a nonprofit organization for the purposes of administration; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Working Group is requested to specifically develop a website for the dissemination of information regarding workforce development resources, initiatives, and programs within the State and any other information that the Working Group shall deem necessary and pertinent; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to prepare a progress and final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Sessions of 2009 and 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Chair of the Workforce Development Council.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

DLIR; Educational Workforce Working Group