STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3367

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3013

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3013 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the career readiness of Hawaii's public high school students by encouraging them to obtain industry certifications in high-value occupations.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Education to establish high-value-employment criteria for industry certification awards to public high schools;

(2) Requires the Department to pay awards to eligible schools for each student who earns an industry-recognized certification, subject to the appropriation of funds by the Legislature, and requires the award to be used for the school's career and technical education program; and

(3) Appropriates funds to the Department to implement these requirements.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, HawaiiKidsCAN, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and two individuals.

The Executive Office on Early Learning submitted written comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that incentivizing public high schools to encourage their students to pursue industry certification in high-value occupations, particularly those having high demand for competent and skilled employees, high potential for growth, and high wages, is a promising strategy for helping students prepare for the modern workforce.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3013, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3013, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair