STAND. COM. REP. NO. 442

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 1176

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 1176 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A JOB CORPS PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a State Job Corps Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to help address unemployment impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and support economic diversification.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaii, International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 142, Kupu, Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, HPM Building Supply, Think BIG Coalition, Kalapana Seaview Estates Community Association, and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed tens of thousands of residents out of work, increasing Hawaii's rate of unemployment to among the highest in the nation. This measure provides a unique opportunity to build a more resilient, equitable, and diversified economy and highlights the need for increased and diverse workforce development initiatives.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the State Jobs Corp Program shall be established within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, rather than the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1176, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1176, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development,

____________________________

SEAN QUINLAN, Chair