STAND. COM. REP. NO.  464

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 853

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 853, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to implement the recommendations of the Hawaii Agriculture Workforce Advisory Board that the State create an agriculture workforce development pipeline by establishing, in the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, a K-12 Agriculture Workforce Development Pipeline Initiative to conduct training sessions on all islands for teachers and school administrators regarding self-sufficiency and appropriating funds for the Initiative.

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii System, The Hawaii State Teachers' Association, The National FFA Organization, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and two concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Education supported the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Island School Garden Network commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 853, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair