STAND. COM. REP. NO. 322

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1305

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1305 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Establish the vocational education out-of-school program and vocational education special fund; and

     (2)  Appropriate monies to implement the vocational education out-of-school program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, IMUAlliance, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that a significant gap exists in Hawaii between the skills that are abundant in the workforce and the skills that employers demand in new personnel.  In 2013, ninety-two percent of top executives surveyed said that there was a job skills gap amongst applicants, and that a lack of qualified local applicants resulted in employers hiring workers from outside the State or leaving positions unfilled for prolonged periods of time.  Your Committee further finds that a majority of all current job openings are for positions that do not require a college degree, although many require significant technical or vocational skills.  This measure will allow Hawaii's students to enter the workforce with skills that are in high demand by potential employers by providing out-of-school vocational education opportunities at public schools in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1305 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair