THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	391
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE WORKFORCE TRAINING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's community colleges play a critical role in the economic recovery and revitalization of the State. The community colleges support residents by providing them with opportunities to improve their employment prospects and developing a workforce that helps businesses and other organizations meet the community's needs.

The legislature further finds that community colleges are at the forefront of post-secondary workforce development programs, both locally and across the United States. Programs that are designed to positively impact local employment pipelines and provide skills for students to succeed in jobs that pay not just the minimum wage, but a family-sustaining wage, are critical to rebuilding the post-pandemic economy and developing Hawaii's future workforce.

The legislature also finds that the expansion of dual credit opportunities such as early college have benefited students throughout the State. Early college programming has enabled students to begin pursuing their educational and career goals while in high school.

The legislature further notes that close to half of public school graduates do not enroll immediately in a two- or four‑year college after graduation. For those students, short‑term workforce training opportunities provided by the university of Hawaii community colleges are a viable alternative to enrollment in for-credit college programs. These offerings can provide students, particularly those who do not intend to enroll in college, with the training they need to immediately enter the workforce after high school, while pursuing industry‑recognized credentials with labor market value, or while continuing their education and training, or taken simultaneously.

The legislature believes that Hawaii's community college faculty and administrators work with employers, industry associations, economic development leaders, and community organizations to develop and offer workforce training programs to prepare residents for current and future employment opportunities, whether for initial employment, advancement, continuing education, or career changes. Community colleges provide workforce training through their credit-based degree programs, as well as non-credit workforce training programs. Hawaii's community colleges also provide opportunities for residents to earn industry-recognized certificates that are valued by local employers and that can also be "stacked" toward higher level certificates or degrees.

The purpose of this Act is to utilize the university of Hawaii's community colleges as a channel to assist in stimulating and revitalizing Hawaii's economic recovery by appropriating funds for the administration, training, and student support of the colleges' workforce development programs, including for students who are enrolled in public high schools in the State.

SECTION 2. 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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the university of Hawaii community college workforce development programs to fund administration, training, positions, and student support, especially for high school students.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Community Colleges; Workforce Training

Description:

Appropriates funds for University of Hawaii Community Colleges Workforce Training.

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