STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3225

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 128

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 128, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CREATE A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS MAJORS RELEVANT TO INDUSTRY DEMANDS IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a plan to provide a highly skilled workforce to meet high technology industry demands in the State.

Specifically, the measure requests that the University of Hawaii establish a task force to:

(1)  Develop a plan to increase the number of students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors relevant to Hawaii industry demands;

(2)  Determine current initiatives that impact the readiness of students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors, and recommend solutions to increase student preparedness;

(3)  Explore and identify workforce trends in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields; and

(4)  Request the task force to submit a report to the Legislature of its findings, recommendations, plan, and any proposed legislation.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii and Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education.

Your Committee believes that the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in Hawaii lacks coordination and, as a result, efforts are often duplicated, creating many inefficiencies.  Your Committee finds that a task force consisting of various stakeholders will help to address inefficiencies and increase the preparation and number of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 128, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair