Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2371 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to design, construct, and equip an Urban Garden Center multipurpose building.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the University of Hawaii, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, and four private citizens.

Your Committee finds that the Urban Garden Center provides a valuable educational resource to families, homeowners, school children, teachers, university students, and horticulture professionals. The center's demand for informal classes and other educational activities is increasing. However, the center has only one classroom that seats forty-five individuals. Larger classes are conducted in the open when weather permits. This measure will provide the needed funding to build a multipurpose building that can support the center's growing activities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2371 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.