STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1627-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.R. No. 134

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.R. No. 134 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ENSURE THAT CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION STANDARDS FOCUS ON PLACE-BASED RESPONSIVENESS TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND PREPARING STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN A GROWING GREEN ECONOMY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to ensure that career and technical education standards focus on place-based responsiveness to climate change and preparing students to engage in a growing green economy.

Your Committee did not receive any written testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that the State faces an uncertain future as the global climate crisis intensifies, putting the health of Hawaii's people, environment, and economy at risk. Your Committee further finds that to survive and adapt to the climate crisis, Hawaii must proactively transition to a green economy that protects the State's natural resources for future generations while providing good jobs for the people of Hawaii. Your Committee additionally finds that providing the next generation of Hawaii's children with a strong grounding in Native Hawaiian knowledge is essential to empowering them to be active participants in a just transition to a regenerative economy that honors Hawaii's unique sense of place.

Your Committee also finds that career and technical education programs have a crucial role to play in preparing students to participate in a green workforce and allowing students to explore potential career pathways in sustainable industries. Your Committee believes that career and technical education programs across all career pathways must be reoriented to prepare the State's students to enter the workforce as responsible stewards of the ‘āina.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 134, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 134, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair