STAND. COM. REP. NO. 418-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1561

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1561 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for:

(1) An adult workforce readiness program; and

(2) Two full-time equivalent adult workforce readiness program coordinators.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, McKinley Community School for Adults, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Quad D Solutions, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Society of Human Resource Management Hawaii, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the University of Hawaii System. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the State's high school students and adult education students would benefit from a work readiness preparation program that provides a close collaboration between educators and industry employers to ensure students develop the skills and credentials needed to make them highly employable. This measure establishes a workforce readiness program to allow students, including students at adult and community schools, to earn associate degrees, workforce development diplomas, pre-apprenticeship certificates, and other industry-recognized certificates.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1561, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1561, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair