STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1212-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2817

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2817, S.D. 2, 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 monies to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to establish five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) faculty positions for additional extension specialists and extension agents.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the College of Tropical Agriculture Human Resources of the University of Hawaiʻi; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.

Your Committee finds that the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources' Extension Service provides vital, on-the-ground assistance to farmers and ranchers across the State. This measure will support those efforts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Modifying the position for an extension specialist in water quality and conservation in the County of Maui from an extension specialist to an extension agent;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it choose to deliberate on this measure, to consider granting the appropriations for the full-time equivalent (FTE) positions a recurring general fund designation.

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. 2817, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2817, S.D. 2, 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