STAND. COM. REP. NO.  205-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2959

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Higher Education and Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2959 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve workforce development in the state by:

     (1)  Appropriating funds for the Department of Education (DOE) to develop a comprehensive tracking system for students from kindergarten to grade twelve and beyond as they move into the workforce;

     (2)  Appropriating funds for a community-based exchange coordinator position in DOE to facilitate and promote volunteerism and community partnerships within the public schools, and to enhance DOE's volunteer website;

     (3)  Expanding the Running Start Program to offer eligible students opportunities to participate in internships established by the community-based exchange or DOE;

     (4)  Establishing penalties for truant students and their parents or guardians;

     (5)  Appropriating funds for the Educational Workforce Working Group (Working Group) to:

          (A)  Create a website for the dissemination of information regarding workforce development resources, initiatives, and programs within the state; and

          (B)  Submit additional reports of its findings and recommendations no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2009 and 2010, including information on its progress and any initiatives or programs implemented as a result of the passage of this bill;

     (6)  Requiring the University of Hawaii (UH) to implement incentives to carry out UH's strategic plan and to implement performance-based budgeting; and

     (7)  Appropriating funds for scholarships for working individuals over 18 years of age who are seeking training or instruction to establish a second career in employment-shortage areas.

     The Workforce Development Council (Council), a member of the Council, two members of the Working Group, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  DOE, UH, and HiTech Quest supported the intent of this measure.  The Judiciary offered comments.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting all provisions except those pertaining to the Working Group; and

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

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Higher Education and Labor & Public Employment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2959, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2959, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Higher Education and Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________ JERRY L. CHANG, Chair	____________________________ ROY TAKUMI, Chair
	____________________________ ALEX M. SONSON, Chair