STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2194

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2242

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 2242 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the establishment of a workforce development microgrant program to award grants to public high school students for costs associated with technical or workforce training related to certain industries.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Office of the State Director for Career and Technical Education for the University of Hawai‘i System, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities for the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.

Your Committees find that since 2013, a number of states have enacted legislation to better align curriculum in high schools with state workforce needs, including designing career pathways that prepare students for high-skill, high-demand jobs in the state or region. By providing financial assistance for high school students for costs associated with technical or workforce training in the State's growing and most demanding industries, the State can continue to invest in local workforce development and ensure that those entering the workforce are prepared and properly trained.

Your Committees have amended this measure by inserting a blank appropriation amount for the workforce development microgrant program.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2242, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2242, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair