STAND. COM. REP. NO.  409-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 2217

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2217, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a highly skilled labor force to meet the increased workforce needs of industries and occupations having potential for high growth by:

     (1)  Allowing the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish work groups to assist in identifying workforce trends, determining skill sets required for jobs being created or modified, and developing training to prepare qualified workers; and

     (2)  Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds therefor.

The Hawaii Primary Care Association and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that it furthers the Hawaii State Plan objectives for social-cultural advancement and ensures that government attitudes, actions, and services are sensitive to community needs; and

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

     Should your Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $500,000.  Your Committee believes that $400,000 is necessary for training programs and $100,000 is necessary to establish working groups.

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. 2217, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2217, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair