STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2661

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2959

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2959 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 agriculture education coordinator position.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System; Department of Agriculture; Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui; Local Food Coalition; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Youth Food Council; Growing Together Edible Landscaping; Center for Getting Things Started; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Hawai‘i Island School Garden Network; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and five individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that the number of young farmers in Hawaii has steadily decreased in recent years. A key factor in the decreasing number of young farmers is the lack of agriculture education, which has led to falling interest in agricultural activities. This measure appropriates funds for a full-time agriculture education coordinator position to ensure the continuation and expansion of agriculture education for young farmers in the State.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2959 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 Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education,

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair