REPORT TITLE:
Education


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates funds for cooperative extension services.  (HB402
HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        402
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
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:

 1      SECTION 1.  The cooperative extension service of the
 
 2 University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human
 
 3 resources performs functions that are critical to the health and
 
 4 well-being of Hawaii, particularly in the area of agriculture.
 
 5 Whereas the number of farms on the mainland is decreasing, the
 
 6 number and the size of farms in Hawaii are increasing due to the
 
 7 phasing out of the plantation economy.  As such, the Hawaii is
 
 8 experiencing an increasingly greater demand for hands-on
 
 9 programming to help emerging agricultural businesses.
 
10 Cooperative extension service agents and specialists are key to
 
11 the future of diversified agriculture in Hawaii.
 
12      Relatedly, a significant change has occurred in family and
 
13 community structure with the transition in the agricultural
 
14 sector.  Cooperative extension services, with its proactive
 
15 programming, plays a significant role in sustaining healthy and
 
16 contributing individuals, families, and communities.  A key area
 
17 is the 4-H youth development program, which involves community
 
18 volunteers to develop leadership among youth.  This program
 
19 provides a positive alternative to gangs.
 

 
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                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      Despite the community need, 16 extension positions vacated
 
 2 since 1992 have not been filled.  Continued budget reductions
 
 3 have diminished the cooperative extension service nonpersonnel
 
 4 budgets to only a few hundred dollars per year for travel,
 
 5 supplies, and support.  This critical loss of key personnel and
 
 6 operating funds for cooperative extension services represents a
 
 7 major impediment to sustaining a successful diversified
 
 8 agriculture and healthy communities.
 
 9      The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the
 
10 creation of six full-time positions in the cooperative extension
 
11 services of the University of Hawaii college of tropical
 
12 agriculture and human resources, as follows:
 
13      (1)  4-H/youth leadership development (2 positions - Oahu
 
14           and Maui);
 
15      (2)  Urban horticulturist (1 position - Oahu);
 
16      (3)  Human resources/community leadership (1 position -
 
17           Hawaii);
 
18      (4)  Ornamental plants/landscape maintenance (1 position -
 
19           Hawaii); and
 
20      (5)  Fruit/vegetable (1 position - Hawaii).
 
21 This Act also increases operating funds by $1,500 for each of the
 
22 45 county-based extension agents and specialists.
 

 
 
 
Page 3                                                     402
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 2 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000 or so much
 
 3 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 for the
 
 4 establishment of six full-time equivalent (6.00 FTE) permanent
 
 5 positions in the cooperative extension service of the University
 
 6 of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources.
 
 7      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 8 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $67,500 or so much
 
 9 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 and the sum
 
10 of $67,500 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
 
11 2000-2001 for operating costs for the cooperative extension
 
12 service of the University of Hawaii college of tropical
 
13 agriculture and human resources.
 
14      SECTION 4.  The sums appropriated shall be expended by the
 
15 University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
 
16      SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.