Honolulu, Hawaii
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Agriculture and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 215, S.D. 1, entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING VARIOUS STATE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS TO EFFECTIVELY LEVERAGE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES IN THE STATE TO ENSURE CAREER READINESS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request various state government entities to take certain
actions to effectively leverage educational resources in the State to ensure
career readiness workforce development, including requesting:
(1) The University of
Hawaii to examine the feasibility of offering a nursing program, allied health
program, or both, at Honolulu Community College, and identify and improve alignment
of University of Hawaii workforce development training programs with certain
plans; and
(2) The Legislative Reference Bureau to perform a comparative analysis of the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and similar cooperative extension agencies nationwide, evaluate CTAHR and its leadership, and make recommendations to better align CTAHR's mission with statewide food security goals.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Legislative Reference Bureau, and one individual.
Your
Committees find that the State is experiencing a significant shortage of
workers in all sectors, including agriculture and health care. However, based on testimony on this measure,
your Committees note that the nursing shortage in the State is an immediate threat
to the health and welfare of Hawaii residents.
Your Committees further note that nursing and other health care shortages
in the State, as well as the nation, are likely to worsen due to factors such
as rising health care demands due to an aging population, an aging work force, shortages
of health care educators and faculty, and nursing turnover.
Your
Committees note that this measure, as introduced, requests the University of
Hawaii to examine the feasibility and accessibility of developing and implementing
a nursing program at Honolulu Community College. Your Committees find that the University of
Hawaii has been participating in meetings of the Western Interstate Commission
for Higher Education to share strategies and best practices on the nursing
shortage crisis. In addition, the University
of Hawaii Community Colleges have been working collaboratively to meet Hawaii's
health care and nursing workforce needs.
Your Committees further note that developing a nursing program at Honolulu
Community College would provide students from the surrounding areas with greater
educational and professional opportunities in health care, as well as
opportunities to participate in rotations with health care providers.
Upon consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by:
(1) Reverting to the language contained in this measure as introduced, which requests the University of Hawaii to:
(A) Examine the feasibility and accessibility of developing and implementing a nursing program at Honolulu Community College; and
(B) Submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023;
(2) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 215, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 215, S.D. 1, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,
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RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair |
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MARK J. HASHEM, Chair |
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