STAND. COM. REP. NO. 128

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 373

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 373 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Department of Education to develop and implement a K-12 curriculum-to-career-pipeline initiative to ensure that the State's public school students are adequately trained and prepared to enter the workforce upon graduation from high school.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Hawai‘i System, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Kamehameha Schools. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that there is a disconnect between the needs and expectations of today's employers and the current skills of the State's local workforce. Many industries in the State require employees with skills in coding, computer science, engineering, foreign language, and other technology-based jobs, yet the skills gap continues to widen. This measure will enable students to enter the State's workforce upon graduation from high school by improving job training and more closely aligning education to employment.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 373 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 Education,

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair