STAND. COM. REP. NO. 417-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1559

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1559 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a career development success program to provide financial incentives for participating public high schools and charter schools to encourage students enrolled in grades nine through twelve to enroll in and successfully complete qualified industry-credential programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii KidsCAN, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that in the current job market, nearly sixty-five percent of available positions require postsecondary credentials. Industry‑recognized credentials are important because they teach the specific knowledge and skills required for an occupation or industry and provide full-time employees with industry credentials with more earnings than their uncredentialed counterparts. Your Committee further finds that Hawaii has critical shortages of qualified local workers in sectors including health, education, air travel, and technology. This measure will establish a career development success program to incentivize high school students to enroll in and successfully complete qualified industry-credential programs and better prepare them for joining Hawaii's workforce.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2051; and

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

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 H.B. No. 1559, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1559, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair