STAND. COM. REP. NO. 482

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.B. No. 473

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 473 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR JOB TRAINING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for job training for underemployed and unemployed persons, specifically focusing on training applicants in construction industry vocations and other skilled trades, high technology vocations, maritime industry vocations, culinary arts, general equivalency degree programs, and labor shortage areas.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Testimony in opposition this measure was submitted by the Department of Human Services. Comments on this measure were submitted by the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that workforce education and training are vital in the development of an educated and productive workforce within the State. Currently, we are experiencing a shortage of skilled workers in several different industries, including the construction, high technology, maritime, and culinary arts industries. Data indicates as well that a large deficit exists between employment supply and demand of qualified workers in jobs that require education and training beyond high school, but less than baccalaureate education.

Your Committee further finds that our low unemployment rate leaves fewer qualified and skilled workers available to enter into the workforce. Efforts should be made to educate and train those individuals without jobs to assist them in entering into the workforce, as well as those already in the workforce to help them to further advance their skills, knowledge, and ultimately their careers. Funding for programs that offer job training for underemployed and unemployed individuals within the State is essential to growing our workforce and our economy.

Additionally, your Committee determines that immigrants from the Freely Associated States comprise a community of individuals who are in desperate need of job training services to help them to become productive members of our State's economy.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that the sum of $1,000,000 shall be used for job training for immigrants from the Freely Associated States under the Leeward Community College workforce development program, established pursuant to Act 225, Session Laws of Hawaii.

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 S.B. No. 473, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 473, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

BRIAN KANNO, Chair