STAND. COM. REP. NO. 574-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1844

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1844 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support a coordinated framework for agriculture education by appropriating funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Agriculture Education Coordinator position at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System; Department of Agriculture; one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Local Food Coalition; Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui; Hawai‘i Youth Food Council; Center for Getting Things Started; Mala‘ai; Food + Policy Internship 2022; Hawaii FFA State Association; National FFA Organization; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Grow Some Good; and ten individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that training the next generation of farmers in Hawaii is of vital importance. Agriculture education can spark awareness of and interest in a career in the evolving diversified agriculture industry in the State. This measure will support agriculture education in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1844, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1844, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair