STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2328

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3374

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 3374 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii Workforce Development Program for administration, training, positions, and student support.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's community colleges play a critical role in the economic recovery and revitalization of the State, including support for residents, by providing opportunities to improve their employment prospects. The development of a skilled workforce helps companies and nonprofit organizations meet the community's needs and survive and thrive as businesses. Hawaii's community college faculty and administrators work with employers, industry associations, economic development leaders, and community organizations to develop and offer workforce training programs and credit-bearing educational programs to offer residents different, enriching pathways to achieve educational or career goals with industry-recognized credentials and valuable experience. To support the community colleges and their role in workforce development and revitalization, this measure appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii Workforce Development Program for administration, training, positions, and student support.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3374 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 Higher Education,

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair