STAND. COM. REP. NO.  579

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 696

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 696, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Hawaii Healthcare Workforce Advisory Board to advise the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in fulfilling the objectives for socio-cultural advancement relating to health under the Hawaii State Planning Act, specifically those relating to healthcare industry and workforce development.  

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, University of Hawai‘i, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, ‘Ohana Health Plan, and Hawai‘i Association of Health Plans submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations provided comments on this measure.  One individual submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 696, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair