Report Title:

Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to EDAH for the expansion of technology training opportunities.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

3063

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to technology training.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the expanding technical components of Hawaii's New Economy – dual-use opportunities, digital media, life and health sciences, agribusiness, and natural sciences – demands a highly trained and skilled workforce to be developed in a phased-in approach over the next ten years.

The purpose of this Act is to work within the broad partnerships that the department of labor and industrial relations, the workforce development council, and the county-level workforce investment boards are presently developing. Specifically, this Act would support partnership workforce development and outreach considerations, which address state business, education, and labor goals.

Partnerships efforts will complement and expand existing programs on the neighbor islands such as Project EAST (Environment and Spatial Technology), Women in Technology, Kauai's Aloha 'Ike programs, North Kohala's Community Resource Center, and other similar projects between schools and businesses in the State. These programs operate successfully on the neighbor islands and serve as models for local and regional development. Developing comparable programs on Oahu will create an educational pipeline to the University of Hawaii and the community colleges statewide.

Partnership efforts will also focus on creating excitement for new business development and careers in science and technology through collaborative marketing, exhibition, communication efforts with the Bishop Museum Science Center, the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo, the Gateway Center at NELHA, the Maui Food Technology Institute, and the Kauai Technology Center. Corporate sponsorships, such as the Hawaiian Tel internship program, will encourage the development of a sustainable trained local workforce through mentoring, apprenticeships, and the "Kama'aina Come Home" campaign.

Capitalizing on existing private sector partnerships will enhance outreach to technology-based foundations and philanthropists, encourage entrepreneurship, and build new incentives for food, fuel, and technology sustainability for generations to come.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, Inc., for the purpose of improving and expanding our technology workforce.

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 2006-2007, as a grant to the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, Inc., pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to expand technology training opportunities statewide; provided that no funds shall be expending unless matching funds are provided.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.

INTRODUCED BY:

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