CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. 60

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 837

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 837, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to address critical needs of private industry and promote business development by clarifying the duties of the Workforce Development Council (WDC).

Your Committee on Conference finds that to compete in the global economy, Hawaii must develop a workforce with high-demand, cross-functional skill sets. However, your Committee on Conference finds that relevant benchmarks must be established to assess whether the workforce development goals of the state departments, University of Hawaii, and WDC are being met and, most importantly, whether Hawaii's workforce is acquiring the skills and education that are in demand by employers directly resulting in increased employment.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Departments of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Labor and Industrial Relations, Human Services, Education, and Public Safety, and the University of Hawaii to report on their workforce development programs; and

(2) Requiring that all workforce development reports by the state departments, University of Hawaii, and WDC be posted electronically on the Internet.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 837, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 837, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________

BRIAN SCHATZ, Co-Chair

____________________________

CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Co-Chair

____________________________

BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair

____________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Co-Chair