Bill Text: HI SCR178 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 178 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Department of Education; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Private Trade, Vocational, and Technical Schools; Licensing

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-23 - Referred to EDU/CPN, WAM. [SCR178 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2015-SCR178-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	178
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of education and department of commerce and consumer affairs to convene a working group to evaluate and plan for the transfer of the licensure of private trade, vocational, and technical schoolS from the department of education to the department of commerce and consumer affairs and consider alternative licensing procedures that are in the best interest of the state's private trade, vocational, and technical schools and students.

WHEREAS, private trade, vocational, and technical schools are higher-level learning institutions that specialize in providing students the education and skills needed to perform the tasks of a particular job, including but not limited to maritime and healthcare jobs; and

WHEREAS, section 302A-425, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires all private trade, vocational, and technical schools be licensed by the Department of Education; and

WHEREAS, section 302A-425, Hawaii Revised Statutes, was amended by Act 57, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, to clarify that the purpose of the licensing law is to protect consumers against false, deceptive, misleading, or unfair practices and to ensure adequate educational quality at private trade, vocational, and technical schools; and

WHEREAS, the Auditor's 2002 report on the licensing of private trade, vocational, and technical schools stated that when section 302A-425, Hawaii Revised Statutes, was amended by Act 57, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, to clarify its purpose, the clarification shifted the emphasis of the licensing law to consumer protection and brought into question the Department of Education's administration of the licensure of private trade, vocational, and technical schools; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education's primary responsibility is educating students in kindergarten through twelfth grade; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Education is unable to effectively administer the licensure of private trade, vocational, and technical schools due to its lack of understanding and expertise regarding the specialized curriculum offered at these schools and lack of experience in providing post-secondary education and overseeing post-secondary institutions; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' primary responsibility is to protect consumers and the Department has experience in the licensure of professions and businesses, as well as some experience in licensing schools; and

WHEREAS, transferring the licensure of private trade, vocational, and technical schools to an appropriate agency and establishing alternative licensing procedures will improve the licensing process for private trade, vocational, and technical schools; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Education and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs are requested to convene a working group to evaluate and plan for the transfer of the licensure of private trade, vocational, and technical schools from the Department of Education to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and consider alternative licensing procedures that are in the best interest of the State's private trade, vocational, and technical schools and students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs consider licensure procedures that protect consumers from false, deceptive, misleading, and unfair practices at private trade, vocational, and technical schools and ensure adequate educational quality at these schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs include interested stakeholders in the working group's discussions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submit their findings and recommendations, including a transfer timeline and any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Superintendent of Education, Chairperson of the Board of Education, Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Auditor.