Hawaii Senate Bill SR29

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/24
• Refer: 3/14/24

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Labor And Industrial Relations And Workforce Development Council To Establish A Task Force To Conduct A Comprehensive Study Of The State's Current Education And Workforce Development Programs.

Impact

The resolution outlines ten specific requests for the task force, including identifying industries with worker shortages, enhancing recruitment and retention strategies, and expanding experiential learning opportunities. Additionally, the task force is tasked with addressing the digital divide and ensuring equitable access to workforce training for communities that have been historically marginalized. This initiative is intended to elevate low wage workers into higher-wage sectors, thereby reducing the racial wealth gap prevalent in Hawaii.

Summary

Senate Resolution 29 (SR29) calls for the establishment of a task force by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Workforce Development Council to conduct a comprehensive study of Hawaii's current education and workforce development programs. The bill emphasizes the need for effective workforce advocacy, highlighting that Hawaii has lagged behind states like New York and California in this regard. Given the dominance of tourism and retail sectors in the state's economy, which offer low wages predominantly to Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, and Filipino workers, the resolution aims to improve economic conditions through strategic workforce initiatives.

Contention

While SR29 aims to foster collaboration among various stakeholders to enhance workforce development, potential points of contention may arise regarding the implementation of the proposed strategies. There may be differing opinions on how to effectively identify and target industries with worker shortages or the best ways to expand work-based learning opportunities. Furthermore, the task force's recommendations may require careful legislative consideration to ensure that proposed changes are adequately funded and that they truly address the needs of the state's diverse population.