STAND. COM. REP. NO. 66-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2092

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2092 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Education to establish a Workforce Readiness Program within the Adult Community Schools Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Workforce Development Council, McKinley Community School for Adults, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and one individual.

Your Committee finds that high school students and non-high school graduates in Hawaii would benefit from aligning educational curriculum to a workforce readiness program, dependent on close collaboration between high schools and Department of Education adult community schools, community colleges, the workforce development council, and employers. This measure will establish the Workforce Readiness Program to ensure that students receive industry-based skills and credentials required for employment after graduation or completion of the Adults' Workforce Preparation Program.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050.

Should your Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully recommends that it insert an appropriation amount of $100,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2092, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2092, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Labor & Public Employment.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair