Bill Text: HI SB373 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-03-21 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Belatti, Cabanilla Arakawa, Holt, Tokioka, Yamane excused (5). [SB373 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2019-SB373-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
373 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to Education.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a disconnect between the needs and expectations of today's employers and the current skills of the State's local workforce. Industries in the State require employees with skills in coding, computer science, engineering, foreign language, and other technology-based jobs. The current low unemployment rate has made it difficult for employers to fill technology-based jobs. According to business and education groups, few individuals have the necessary job skills for the available job openings. The legislature finds that the way to close this skills gap is to improve job training and more closely align education to employment.
The legislature finds that closing the skills gap is especially critical in the manufacturing industry. Over the next decade, nearly 3,500,000 manufacturing jobs will need to be filled throughout the country, yet the skills gap is expected to result in 2,000,000 of these job openings remaining unfilled. There are numerous contributing factors to this widening gap, including looming baby boomer retirements and economic expansion. However, other contributing factors include loss of embedded knowledge due to movement of experienced workers; a perceived preference among younger generations for industries other than manufacturing; lack of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills among workers; and a gradual decline of technical education programs in public high schools.
The legislature finds that closing the skills gap for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics jobs is extremely important because these jobs are expected to grow 1.7 times faster than other jobs in the coming years. However, Honolulu has not been able to keep up with the rising demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals, and according to a 2018 analysis of the best metropolitan areas for these professionals, Honolulu ranked eighty-second out of one hundred. Hawaii has also experienced difficulties retaining highly-skilled workers in the State. A recent United States Census report found that more than thirteen thousand more people moved out of Hawaii than moved in from other states.
The purpose of this Act is to provide K-12 students with more career options by requiring the department of education, in collaboration and consultation with the department of business, economic development, and tourism; the department of labor and industrial relations; and the University of Hawaii; to develop and implement a K-12 curriculum-to-career-pipeline initiative that will enable students to enter the State's workforce upon graduation from high school.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- K-12 curriculum-to-career-pipeline
initiative. (a) There shall be created in the department a
K-12 curriculum-to-career-pipeline initiative.
(b) The purpose of the K-12 curriculum-to-career-pipeline
initiative shall be to enable students to pursue training and education
throughout their time at a school complex, so that upon graduation, students
are prepared with the appropriate skills; certifications; licensing; or college
credit to enable these students to enter the State's workforce.
(c) The department shall collaborate and consult
with the department of business, economic development, and tourism; the
department of labor and industrial relations; and the University of Hawaii to
develop and implement the K-12 curriculum-to-career-pipeline initiative.
(d) The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purposes of this section."
SECTION 3. 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 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the department of education to develop and implement a K-12 curriculum-to-career-pipeline initiative.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
DOE; Workforce Development; K-12 Curriculum-to-Career-Pipeline Initiative; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a K-12 curriculum-to-career-pipeline initiative to ensure that the State's public school students are adequately trained and prepared to enter the State's workforce upon graduation from high school. Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
