STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3080

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2259

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2259 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to help provide students with skills and credentials to obtain employment.

 

     Specifically, this measure:

 

(1)  Establishes a workforce readiness program within the Department of Education's Adult Community School program to provide opportunities for students to earn diplomas and various certificates that pertain to employment;

 

(2)  Authorizes the Department of Education to coordinate with certain other departments and to contract with employers for the program; and

 

(3)  Appropriates funds for the program.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Adult Community Education Advisory Council, McKinley Community School for Adults, Waipahu Community School for Adults, and eight individuals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Executive Office on Early Learning.

 

     Your Committee finds that work readiness programs help to develop a stronger workforce by, among other things, providing valuable training to students who have not succeeded in a traditional school setting but nevertheless demonstrate the ability to become successful and contributing members of the workforce.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Amending references to the Community School for Adults program to be consistent with the program name used by the Department of Education;

 

(2)  Changing the amount appropriated to an unspecified amount;

 

(3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

(4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2259, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2259, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair