CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 57

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 224

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 224, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Give a preference to students who live within the service area of a school or who were enrolled at the school in the previous school year and apply for participation in a career and technical education program offered by that school; and

(2) Exempt students enrolled in a career and technical education program from the requirement to attend school within the service area in which a student resides.

Your Committee on Conference finds that a gap exists between the skills that students in the State attain upon graduation from high school and the skills that employers in the State are seeking. Business leaders in Hawaii's expanding industries report that it is often difficult to recruit local applicants who have the necessary skills and experiences. Your Committee on Conference further finds that educational programs specializing in career readiness and technical skills can be effective in preparing students in Hawaii to enter the State's job market. This measure expands the number of students receiving career and technical skills education by allowing students to enroll in career and technical programs, regardless of where they reside.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Updating the purpose section; and

(2) Changing the effective date to upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 224, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 224, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Chair
____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair