STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2856

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2188

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2188, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to strengthen the State's workforce by establishing a Workforce Readiness Program.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes a Workforce Readiness Program within the Department of Education's Community School for Adults program and requires the Department to designate schools to participate in the Workforce Readiness Program;

(2) Authorizes the Department of Education to coordinate with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation of the Department of Human Services, and to contract with industry employers to develop and implement the Workforce Readiness Program; and

(3) Appropriates moneys for the Community School for Adults primary campuses and associated satellite sites to implement the Workforce Readiness Program, and for additional staffing at the primary campuses.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, McKinley Community School for Adults, McKinley Community School for Adults-Moanalua Campus, McKinley Community School for Adults-Maui Campus, McKinley Community School for Adults-Kauai Campus, Waipahu Community School for Adults, Waipahu Community School for Adults-Wahiawa Campus, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Workforce Development Council, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the Workforce Readiness Program established by this measure will prepare more Hawaii residents to enter the workforce by providing opportunities for students to earn workforce development diplomas, pre-apprenticeship certificates, or other certificates recognized by industry employers that assess and document readiness for a wide range of jobs.

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 amendments 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. 2188, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2188, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair