STAND. COM. REP. NO. 186

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 747

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Education and Housing and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 747 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to implement several of the Educational Workforce Working Group's recommendations for addressing workforce development issues in the State by:

     (1)  Developing a comprehensive tracking system for students grades kindergarten to twelve as they move into the workforce and appropriating funds to establish the system;

     (2)  Establishing a community-business education exchange coordinator to nurture stronger partnerships between the community and the schools and appropriating funds for personnel and expenses;

     (3)  Appropriating funds for enhancement of the Department of Education's volunteer website;

     (4)  Extending the Educational Workforce Working Group established pursuant to Act 283, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, for two additional years, adding a website, and providing funding for the Working Group; and

     (5)  Appropriating funds for working adult scholarships.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by three state agencies.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by one state agency.  Two state agencies provided comments.  Copies of written testimony are available for review on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that developing a skilled workforce in a competitive global economy requires improved student achievement, and that the public high school dropout rate of 16.5 per cent must to be reduced quickly.  In addition, additional opportunities are needed for working adults to upgrade skills through continuing education and training.

Your Committees further find that Act 283, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, established the Educational Workforce Working Group.  The Working Group's report to the Legislature included seven recommendations that will result in graduates who are ready and motivated to pursue additional training and education, or move seamlessly into the workforce.  This measure incorporates a number of those recommendations.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the agencies assisting in developing a comprehensive tracking system and adding a requirement to report to the Legislature regarding the system;

     (2)  Clarifying the role and duties of the community-business education exchange coordinator position;

     (3)  Requiring the Educational Workforce Working Group to enhance the current Career and Technical Education Web site, rather than create a new one; and

     (4)  Adding two members to the Working Group.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Housing and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 747, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 747, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Housing and Labor,

____________________________ DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair