STAND. COM. REP. NO. 98-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1844

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, 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 the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to establish one full-time equivalent agriculture education coordinator position.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Center for Getting Things Started, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Grow Some Good, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that a working group established by Senate Resolution No. 80, Regular Session of 2015, requested the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to develop a coordinated framework of support for preschool through post-secondary (P-20) agriculture education and a plan for implementation. Your Committee recognizes that agriculture education is fundamental to a strong and viable agriculture industry in the State. Agriculture education informs students about pursing career opportunities in agriculture, provides opportunities for students to cultivate their interest and skills in agriculture, and equips a new generation of individuals to strengthen Hawaii's food security and food self-sufficiency through agriculture. This measure creates an agriculture education coordinator position to support agriculture education in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1844 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair