HB1559

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, in the current job market, nearly sixty-five per cent of available positions require postsecondary credentials. Industry-recognized credentials are important because they teach the specific knowledge and skills that are required for an occupation or industry. Full-time employees with industry credentials earn more than their uncredentialed counterparts, and, in some cases, the salaries of credential holders who do not hold college degrees are similar to the salaries of college graduates.

The legislature also finds that the State has critical shortages of qualified and credentialed workers in sectors including health, education, air travel, agriculture, and technology. Given the recent downturn in the State's economy and the rise in unemployment, it is especially important for Hawaii to equip its students for the existing job market. To this end, the Promising Credentials project, a collaborative effort aimed at using Hawaii labor market data and local employer insights to identify high-value industry credentials in the State, was launched. This information will enable local career readiness programs to better tailor their offerings to Hawaii's job market and to deliver more effective services to both students and employers.

Act 163, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, which requires, in part, a statewide longitudinal data system, will better enable the department of education and employers to align offerings and opportunities based on data. The legislature believes that students and employers in Hawaii both benefit when career readiness programs at school prepare students based on regional needs.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to create a career development success program to provide financial incentives for participating public high schools and charter schools to encourage pupils enrolled in grades nine through twelve to enroll in and successfully complete qualified industry-credential programs.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to subpart C of part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Industry-recognized credentials; career development success program. (a) There is established within the department a career development success program to provide financial incentives for participating high schools to encourage students enrolled in grades nine through twelve in public high schools to enroll in and successfully complete qualified industry-credential programs.

(b) Beginning with the 2022-2023 fiscal year, each participating school may receive up to $ for each pupil who, in the preceding fiscal year, successfully completes a qualified industry-credential program.

(d) The department shall create a process with a deadline for participating schools to report student credential attainment.

(e) For each fiscal year, the department shall distribute to each participating school an amount equal to $ multiplied by the number of pupils reported by the participating school as successfully earning an industry certificate by completing a qualified industry-credential program; provided that a participating school shall not receive a distribution for more than ten per cent of the total number of completed industry certificates reported by the schools.

(f) For each fiscal year, the department shall distribute funds in the following order until all funds are disbursed:

(1) Based on the order received by the department, funds shall be distributed first to participating schools for all who attained Advanced Credentials on the Promising Credentials list;

(2) Based on the order received by the department, funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained Door Opener Credentials on the Promising Credentials list;

(3) Based on the order received by the department, funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained Springboard Credentials on the Promising Credentials list;

(4) Based on the order received by the department, funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained Foundational Credentials on the Promising Credentials list; and

(5) Any remaining funds shall be deposited into the general fund.

(g) Each participating school shall regularly communicate to all high school students the availability of qualified industry-credential programs and the benefits a student receives as a result of successfully completing one of the programs or courses. The participating school shall design the communications with students with the goal of increasing participation in the qualified industry-credential programs and courses across all student subgroups.

(h) As used in this section:

"Participating school" means a public high school that chooses to participate in the career development success program established pursuant to this section.

"Qualified industry-credential program" means a program where a student attains a credential that is included in the most current version of the Promising Credentials and Occupations in Hawaii list."

SECTION 3. Chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302D- Industry-recognized credentials; career development success program. (a) There is established by the commission a career development success program to provide financial incentives for participating public charter schools to encourage students enrolled in grades nine through twelve in public charter schools to enroll in and successfully complete qualified industry-credential programs.

(d) The commission shall create a process with a deadline for participating schools to report student credential attainment.

(e) For each fiscal year, the commission shall distribute to each participating school an amount equal to $ multiplied by the number of pupils reported by the participating school as successfully earning an industry certificate by completing a qualified industry-credential program; provided that a participating school shall not receive a distribution for more than ten per cent of the total number of completed industry certificates reported by the schools.

(f) For each fiscal year, the commission shall distribute funds in the following order until all funds are disbursed:

(1) Based on the order received by the commission, funds shall be distributed first to participating schools for all who attained Advanced Credentials on the Promising Credentials list;

(2) Based on the order received by the commission, funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained Door Opener Credentials on the Promising Credentials list;

(3) Based on the order received by the commission, funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained Springboard Credentials on the Promising Credentials list;

(4) Based on the order received by the commission, funds shall be distributed to participating schools for all who attained Foundational Credentials on the Promising Credentials list; and

(5) Any remaining funds shall be deposited into the general fund.

(g) Each participating school shall regularly communicate to all students in grades nine through twelve the availability of qualified industry-credential programs and the benefits a student receives as a result of successfully completing one of the programs or courses. The participating school shall design the communications with students with the goal of increasing participation in the qualified industry-credential programs and courses across all student subgroups.

(h) As used in this section:

"Participating school" means a public charter school that chooses to participate in the career development success program established pursuant to this section.

"Qualified industry-credential program" means a program where a student attains a credential that is included in the most current version of the Promising Credentials and Occupations in Hawaii list."

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the career development success program established pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the career development success program established pursuant to section 3 of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the state public charter school commission for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 4 and 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1559
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII