STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2882

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2655

       H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2655, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Authorize the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish and operate a training program to augment and expand the reach of the workforce investment activities administered by the Department pursuant to the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998;

 

     (2)  Appropriate an unspecified amount for the establishment of the training program; and

 

     (3)  Authorize the Department to use monies in the employment and training fund from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013, to cover costs associated with administering, managing, reporting, and overseeing the programs funded under the federal Workforce Investment Act for which insufficient funds were allocated.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142.

 

     Your Committee finds that workforce development activities of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations are under serious fiscal constraints due to restrictions arising out of recent federal budget decisions.  This measure establishes a training program to expand workforce investment activities administered by the Department and pursuant to the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998.  The target population of this training program includes the unemployed and underemployed, veterans, persons with disabilities, non-native English speakers, homeless persons, and persons recently released from incarceration.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations indicates that the fiscal constraints for administrative costs are severe and erode the Department's ability to administer federal funds being received for the workforce training program.  This measure enables the Department to carry out its required functions to oversee, manage, report, and draw down cash to maintain workforce development programs in the counties.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2655, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair