STAND. COM. REP. NO.  82-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 3162

      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 Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 3162 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to better align the State's workforce development policies and programs with its economic policies by transferring the Workforce Development Council (WDC) from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT).

     DLIR, DBEDT, WDC, and The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.

     The WDC is currently placed within DLIR for administrative purposes.  Transferring the WDC to DBEDT would better align the State's workforce development activities and economic development activities, which may result in increased receipt of national workforce funds and allow the State to be better equipped to handle the State's workforce needs in an increasingly global economy.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2059, to encourage further discussion; 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 Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3162, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 3162, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Economic Development & Business Concerns.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair