STAND. COM. REP. NO. 872-22

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1561, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish an Adult Workforce Readiness Program to provide opportunities for students to earn associate degrees, workforce development diplomas, and industry-recognized certificates;

(2) Require the Department of Education to designate schools to participate in the Program; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Program and to establish and hire two full-time equivalent Adult Workforce Readiness Program Coordinators.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, McKinley Community School for Adults, Waipahu Community School for Adults, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Susannah Wesley Community Center, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Society of Human Resource Management Hawaii, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and University of Hawai‘i System.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1561, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair