STAND. COM. REP. NO. 517

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1585

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1585 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and implement evidence-based performance metrics for the Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education to allow better evidence-based assessments for its workforce and pathway development programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Resources Development.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Department of Education; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges; and Hawaiʻi P-20 Partnerships for Education.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education Advisory Council and its associated members from the Executive Office on Early Learning, Department of Education, and University of Hawaii, including the University of Hawaii Community Colleges, collaborate to improve educational pathways for students from early childhood through higher education to instill them with the vocational skills and knowledge that will prepare them for professional life. Your Committee further finds that the evidence-based performance metrics could enhance the effectiveness of the workforce and pathway development programs offered through Hawaii P-20. This measure will improve workforce and pathway development programs to provide students with access to high‑quality career and technical education programs that will equip them with the academic knowledge and technical skills necessary for employment.

Your Committee notes the concern raised by the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii Community Colleges that this measure may reduce the amount of funding that is provided to the Department of Education and the Hawaii Community Colleges for the support of career development programs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language identifying it as a law of statewide concern;

(2) Specifying that the Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education Advisory Council shall submit its report to the Legislature no later than thirty days prior to the convening of each Regular Session;

(3) Specifying that Perkins V federal funds shall be appropriated or authorized for the purposes of this measure;

(4) Inserting language clarifying that the purpose of the appropriation is for the Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education Office to establish and implement evidence‑based assessments of its workforce and pathway development programs;

(5) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(6) Inserting an effective date of July 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 1585, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1585, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair