STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3551

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2753

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 2753, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and codify a state YouthBuild program in the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations(DLIR), and require DLIR to establish program requirements similar to the federal YouthBuild grants awarded by the United States Department of Labor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaiian Community Assets and Hawaii Community Lending, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that YouthBuild is an alternative education and occupation skills training program that focuses on preparing disadvantaged and low-income youth to become part of a critical "young adult pipeline" of workers providing participants with marketable skills and brighter futures. Developing a skilled construction workforce can also help to increase the supply of affordable housing for Hawaii's families.

Your Committee notes that DLIR has indicated that there are a number of variables that makes it difficult to estimate the appropriation required to fund the State's matching and administrative costs for this measure. Accordingly, your Committee further notes that the amount of funds appropriated has not been specified and requests that the Committee on Ways and Means determine an amount to be appropriated.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor, Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2753, H.D. 1, 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 Labor, Culture and the Arts,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair