HB2696.DOC

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2696
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that all students have the right to pursue careers in their chosen fields, and the State must encourage students to do so. While not all students in the public school system have the propensity, qualifications, or desire to attend college or university, all students can achieve success through gaining and honing skills that may be utilized in gainful employment. The legislature finds that the public education system fails to meet some students' respective propensities, qualifications, or educational goals through the State's present educational programs.

The legislature further finds that the public school system currently has a repair and maintenance backlog of approximately $300 million. Certain repair and maintenance work at some schools can take longer than other schools because of geographic locations and distance from agencies charged with conducting the repair and maintenance at these facilities. The legislature further finds that students, under the supervision of an instructor, may undertake these repair and maintenance projects in exchange for school credit.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of education to establish a student repair and maintenance program at selected public high schools.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Student repair and maintenance program. (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the department shall establish and administer a repair and maintenance program at selected public high schools in the State.

(b) The department, for the purposes of this section, shall:

(1) Select schools to participate in the student repair and maintenance program with preference given to rural schools and schools with a large number of repair and maintenance projects;

(2) Establish prerequisites and priorities for repair and maintenance projects to be included in the student repair and maintenance program;

(3) Employ necessary instructors with supervisory experience, provided that if a repair and maintenance project requires a licensed plumber or electrician, the instructor shall be licensed under chapter 448E;

(4) Establish rules and regulations for awarding proper academic credit to students participating in the student repair and maintenance program; and

(5) Determine repair and maintenance projects to be undertaken as part of the repair and maintenance program.

(c) Students participating in the student repair and maintenance program and under the supervision of an instructor shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of chapter 448E.

(d) If a school does not have a repair and maintenance project identified, a student may undertake a repair and maintenance project at a different school, provided that all other conditions are met.

(e) Repair and maintenance projects under the student repair and maintenance program shall be exempt from chapter 103D.

(f) For the purposes of this section:

"Repair and maintenance project" means any repair or maintenance project that does not exceed a total value of ten thousand dollars, including, but not limited to, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, construction, or demolition needed at a school identified by the department."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the student repair and maintenance program.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________