STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3490

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1844

H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1844, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to establish one full-time (1.0 FTE) Agriculture Education Coordinator position.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawai‘i System; Department of Education; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Local Food Coalition; Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui; Hawaii Public Health Institute; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Center for Getting Things Started; Grow Some Good; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawai‘i Youth Food Council; and eight individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that the average age of farmers in Hawaii is sixty years, and the State does not have a farming workforce large enough for the expansion of cultivated agricultural lands and food production. One primary cause of the shortage of new farmers in Hawaii in the past several decades has been the decline in support for agriculture education from state government, including training for agriculture teachers. The lack of support for agriculture education has resulted in insufficient interest in pursuing the fields of agriculture and natural resource management among Hawaii's youth. This measure is therefore necessary to advance agriculture career awareness, exploration, preparation, and training in schools to sustain Hawaii's workforce and contribute to increasing agricultural production and resiliency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1844, H.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair