Bill Text: HI SB1305 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-11-30 - Carried over to 2018 Regular Session. [SB1305 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SB1305-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1305
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII

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 approximately seventy-four per cent of all children in Hawaii are raised by working families.  Parents and the High Cost of Child Care, 2016 Report, by ChildCare Aware of America, reports that Hawaii is the ninth least affordable state for the cost of before-school or after-school care for a school-aged child in a child care center, as a percentage of median income of parents.  The Afterschool Alliance reports that seventeen per cent of Hawaii K-12 youth are responsible for their own care after school and that thirty-eight per cent of all Hawaii children who are not enrolled in an afterschool program would be likely to participate in a program if one were available in the community.

     The legislature also finds that, according to the Statewide Point-In-Time Count published January 24, 2016, approximately 1,935 children in Hawaii are homeless and can benefit from a safe, structured out-of-school environment.  Vocational education programs can be aligned with the school day to complement, but not duplicate, arts, culture, literacy, fitness, foreign language, math, science, character development, and community service.  The purpose of vocational education is to prepare students to work in a trade.  Vocational education can expose students to trade, craft, or a technical career such as engineering, computer science, accountancy, nursing, medicine, architecture, hospitality, or agribusiness.  More than a decade of research confirms that quality afterschool programs inspire and motivate children to learn, support children's social and emotional growth, and help raise academic achievement.

     The legislature finds that for decades, people have discussed Hawaii's brain drain problem and how to retain Hawaii's best and brightest and bring back those who have left Hawaii for work or school.  Hawaii also has a skills gap problem.  In 2013, ninety-two per cent of top executives surveyed by Adecco said that there was a job skills gap amongst applicants.  Industries with careers demanding skills in computer science, coding, engineering, and foreign language are available in Hawaii; however, there is a lack of qualified local workers to fill these jobs.  Improving job training and more closely aligning high school education to employment can close this skills gap.

     The legislature further finds that many states have supported policies that expand learning opportunities to advance a range of state education and youth goals.  These opportunities, known as expanded learning opportunities, offer structured learning environments outside the traditional school day hours through before- and after-school programs.  They provide a range of enrichment and learning activities in various subjects, including arts, civic engagement, language, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

     The intent of this Act is to use vocational education programs as part of the solution to address poverty, brain drain, and skills gaps within the local workforce.  Specifically, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Establish a vocational education out-of-school program;

     (2)  Create the vocational education program special fund;

     (3)  Provide a single funding source to fund vocational education programs; and

     (4)  Make an appropriation.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-A  Vocational education out-of-school program.  (a)  There is established within the department the vocational education out-of-school program for grades nine through twelve, to be conducted during after-school hours, on weekends, and during inter-sessions.  All public schools, including charter schools, may participate in and be eligible for funding through the program.  The department may contract with private providers to furnish the program; provided that this section shall not be interpreted to impose liability of any kind or nature upon the department, its employees, or its agents.

     (b)  The vocational education out-of-school program shall be funded by the vocational education program special fund.

     §302A-B  Vocational education program special fund.  There is established in the state treasury the vocational education program special fund to be administered by the department and into which shall be deposited the following:

     (1)  Appropriations by the legislature to the special fund;

     (2)  Gifts, donations, and grants from public agencies and private persons, including federal grants, private entities, individuals, nonprofit organizations, and religious entities; and

     (3)  All proceeds collected by the department derived from student participation fees should the department choose to collect such fees.

The vocational education program special fund shall be used to support the vocational education out-of-school program established under section 302A-A."

     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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for deposit into the vocational education program special fund established under section 2 of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the vocational education program special fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for implementation costs and expenses for the vocational education out-of-school program established by section 2 of this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

     SECTION 6.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Education; Vocational Education Out-of-School Program; Vocational Education Special Fund; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes the vocational education out-of-school program.  Establishes the vocational education program special fund.  Makes an appropriation.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.