STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1547

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 123

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 123 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, TO STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE THE SCHOOL-TO-CAREER PIPELINE FOR POSITIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the University of Hawaii, in conjunction with the Department of Public Safety, to strengthen and enhance the school-to-career pipeline for positions in public safety.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committees find that there are a significant number of vacant positions across the various state departments, with some departments employing less than seventy-five percent of their allocated positions. The Department of Public Safety has one of the highest total number of unfilled positions, the majority of which pay a living wage and do not require a four-year degree. Course offerings that introduce students to these career fields may help raise awareness of possible careers in public safety and reduce state job vacancies while increasing employee retention rates.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language to include the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement in working in conjunction with the University of Hawaii to strengthen and enhance the school-to-career pipeline for positions in public safety;

(2) Amending the title accordingly; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 123, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 123, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair