Bill Text: HI HB1931 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To The University Of Hawaii.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-14 - The committee(s) on HET recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [HB1931 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1931-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1931 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to the university of hawaii.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a need in the State for coherent, long-term workforce development programs to foster a sustainable and economically diverse base for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) industries, particularly on the neighbor islands. Supporting STEM industries in the State will stimulate economic growth and ensure that Hawaii's youth remain in Hawaii to pursue careers in STEM industries.
The legislature further finds that the University of Hawaii's burgeoning space sciences workforce development program is now recruiting an initial cohort of faculty engineers within the college of engineering, located at the University of Hawaii's Manoa and Hilo campuses. This engineering cohort will focus on teaching, research, and engineering applied to astronomy and aerospace. A cornerstone of this program will be integrating this team with high-tech development and instrumentation at the observatories on Maunakea and Haleakala, which combined have facilities worth over $1,000,000,000 and sustain research, education, and technology development advancements on a regular basis.
The legislature recognizes that these globally significant investments in Hawaii, which combined have more than $200,000,000 in annual economic impact statewide, can serve as the basis for a workforce development program that substantially deepens the long-term benefits of these investments for local students, businesses, and communities. The most cost effective approach to creating such a workforce development program is to expand upon programs that have demonstrated success, integrate them into a continuum of support from kindergarten to a career, and link students to a multitude of educational, hands-on learning opportunities and ultimately employers. The building blocks for such a program are substantially in place, but additional resources are needed to better integrate and expand them, providing an end-to-end STEM workforce development program that is unique globally.
The legislature also finds that premier examples of programs that serve as vital tracks at the high school and undergraduate levels for the proposed next-generation workforce development program include the Maunakea scholars program and Akamai workforce initiative. The Maunakea scholars program is made possible through a partnership between the department of education, University of Hawaii, and Maunakea Observatories. The program started as a pilot program in 2016 involving students at Kapolei high school and Waiakea high school, and nearly a thousand students have since participated in the program in schools on Oahu, Lanai, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii island. This program, the first and only one of its kind in the world, pairs high school students with mentors, mostly consisting of graduate students at the University of Hawaii institute for astronomy, to help the students design and execute their own research projects using all of the observatories on Maunakea and several observatories on Haleakala. This program focuses on rural public schools, working with students at a wide range of academic levels from credit recovery to Advanced Placement research. The program is designed to empower students to envision themselves as people who can engage in a variety of STEM professions like astronomy, engineering, computer science, data analytics, and mechanical technicians.
The legislature notes that, through mentoring and collaboration, numerous Maunakea scholars have gone on to pursue STEM degrees, including astronomy degrees at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and University of Hawaii at Hilo. Spinoff programs include the new Waipahu high school observatory, the only professional-grade high school observatory in the State; online classes that are part of the University of Hawaii Manoa Academy; science fair entries leading to scholarships; STEM capstone projects; and internships. The program currently involves ten public high schools and is already at capacity, given the resources available. Expanding the Maunakea scholars program to all public high schools is viable but will require additional staff and resources.
The legislature additionally finds that the Maunakea scholars program is also a feeder into the Akamai workforce initiative, which is arguably the gold standard for STEM college internships on Maui and Hawaii island. The Akamai workforce initiative is administratively led by the Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators at the University of California Observatories, in partnership with the University of Hawaii. In twenty years, over five hundred college students have participated in this internship program, eighty-eight per cent are still in STEM fields of education or careers, and over one hundred twenty-five students have STEM jobs in Hawaii. Most Akamai interns are engineering majors, with around fifty per cent being underrepresented minorities, twenty-five per cent being Native Hawaiian, and forty per cent being women. Each summer, over thirty local undergraduates have Akamai internships with astronomy, aerospace, and STEM organizations on Hawaii island and Maui. Like the Maunakea scholars program, expanding this program overall and to other islands in the State is feasible but will require more resources.
The legislature believes that integrating distinct programs to provide career pathway continuity into jobs for local students is central to the envisioned workforce development program. Persistent mentoring to help bridge the historic gaps between education and employment tracks for local students, leading them to fulfilling, long-term careers, is the holistic approach that is needed.
Accordingly, the legislature finds that the University of Hawaii's institute for astronomy, which hosts the State's astronomy program, has extensive education, research, and technology development programs in place and is already coupled to numerous astronomy and aerospace entities. The institute for astronomy is the logical place to host a next-generation workforce development program that interconnects local students with hands-on STEM training and careers. Coordinating all of this activity and sustained funding to cover operational costs will be key to further expanding the next-generation workforce development program.
The purpose of this Act is to support the University of Hawaii institute for astronomy by appropriating funds for:
(1) The salaries and fringe benefits of positions for the space sciences workforce development program, Maunakea scholars program, and Akamai internship program; and
(2) Office equipment and supplies for the Maunakea scholars program and Akamai internship program.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the University of Hawaii institute for astronomy, to be used as follows:
(1) $700,000 for the salaries and fringe benefits of the following positions:
(A) $200,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) University of Hawaii space sciences workforce development program manager;
(B) $120,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Maunakea scholars program coordinator;
(C) $80,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrative clerk for the University of Hawaii space sciences workforce development program;
(D) $180,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrator for the Akamai internship program; and
(E) $120,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) coordinator for the Akamai internship program; and
(2) $300,000 for office supplies and equipment for the Maunakea scholars program and Akamai internship program.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:
(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and
(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
Report Title:
University of Hawaii; Space Sciences Workforce Development Program; Maunakea Scholars Program; Akamai Internship Program; Equipment and Supplies; Positions; Fringe Benefits; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling
Description:
Appropriates funds for salaries and fringe benefits of positions for the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's Space Sciences Workforce Development Program, Maunakea Scholars Program, and Akamai Internship Program. Appropriates funds for office equipment and supplies for the Maunakea Scholars Program and Akamai Internship Program.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
