STAND. COM. REP. NO. 182-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2383

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2383 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WORKFORCE PELL GRANT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish:

(1) A statewide framework for the implementation of the federal Workforce Pell Grant Program to provide financial aid for certain short‑term workforce education and training programs; and

(2) The Workforce Pell Grant Program Approval Committee within the Workforce Development Council.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Workforce Development Council; and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; and Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii lacks a unified system to evaluate, authorize, and monitor short‑term workforce education programs that may qualify for federal Workforce Pell Grant funding. Without clear pathways and data‑sharing procedures, the State risks losing access to federal funds and may be unable to ensure accountability for participating institutions. This measure creates a comprehensive statewide authorization, oversight, and data‑integration framework that enables Hawaii residents to access federal Workforce Pell Grants while ensuring program quality.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that this measure is a matter of statewide concern;

(2) Clarifying the definition of "in-demand sector or occupation";

(3) Expanding the membership of the Workforce Pell Grant Program Approval Committee;

(4) Clarifying that the responsibility for developing stackable credential pathways and related data‑sharing, reporting and compliance requirements extends to all eligible postsecondary institutions rather than solely to the University of Hawaii System;

(5) Clarifying that information produced under the Workforce Pell Grant Program that is designated as confidential is protected from public disclosure to the extent authorized by the Uniform Information Practices Act;

(6) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(7) 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 Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2383, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2383, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

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

____________________________

JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair