STAND. COM. REP. NO. 599

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 49

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Education and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 49, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Education to collaborate with the Workforce Development Council on workforce development initiatives.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and Society for Human Resource Management Hawaii.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Workforce Development Council.

     Your Committees find that a gap in skills and credentials exists between the needs of employers in the State and the local workforce, including graduates of Hawaii's public schools.  Your Committees further find that, if educators are not aware of the needs of local employers, they cannot adequately equip students with the skills that they will need to take advantage of employment opportunities.  This measure will create initiatives that will empower teachers and education professionals to ensure that Hawaii's students have the skills that local employers are looking for in new employees.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 49, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair