STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1497

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1586

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred S.B. No. 1586, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to establish five full-time equivalent extension specialist agent positions at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Kualoa Ranch; Ulupono Initiative; Puna Flower Power; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; and nineteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that funding for these positions will support the Cooperative Extension programs at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources locations in Hilo and Manoa and the counties of Kauai and Maui. Each extension specialist or extension agent would focus on a specific area, designated in the measure as entomology, livestock, or farm and consumer food safety. Your Committee acknowledges that agricultural producers from around the State have expressed the importance of these positions as essential to the health and well-being of Hawaii's agricultural producers and consumers.

Your Committee further finds that describing the five positions as extension specialist agents does not sufficiently distinguish the types of work performed for the Cooperative Extension programs by extension specialists and extension agents and believes it is prudent to provide greater specificity for these positions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Differentiating whether each position is for an extension specialist or an extension agent;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 S.B. No. 1586, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1586, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair