STAND. COM. REP. NO. 359-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2777

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2777 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 appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources for the establishment of two extension agent positions to support the 4-H Youth Development Program and intergenerational programming in Kona, Hawaii, and Lihue, Kauai.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; Hawaiʻi 4-H Alumni Association; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that 4-H is a positive youth development organization that exists to improve young people's lives through an intentional, prosocial approach that engages youth within their communities, schools, organizations, peers and families, and to enhance their strengths, provides opportunities, and furnish support to build on their leadership skills. This measure will increase staffing to support the 4-H program.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $200,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025.

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. 2777, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2777, 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