STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2887

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2573

       H.D. 1

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2573, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO APPRENTICESHIP,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the state apprenticeship law to conform to new federal regulations on apprenticeship programs.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; the Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.; and the Pacific Resource Partnership.

     Your Committee finds that the Office of Apprenticeship of the United States Department of Labor requires all state apprenticeship programs to revise its state laws and rules pursuant to title 29 Code of Federal Regulations part 29.  The new federal regulations recognize that technological advances, demographic changes, and globalization have significantly altered the context in which apprenticeship programs operate.  The new federal regulations contain new concepts, such as competency-based training and provisional approvals of new apprenticeship programs.

     Your Committee further finds that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is seeking renewal of its federal recognition as a State Apprenticeship Agency to administer apprenticeship programs in the State.  A prerequisite for renewal is conforming state laws to the new federal regulations.  The Department has until December 31, 2012, to obtain the appropriate amendments to the apprenticeship state laws for federal recognition.  Thus, this measure conforms the State's apprenticeship laws under chapter 372, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the new federal regulations to maintain the State's federal recognition as a State Apprenticeship Agency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2573, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair