Appropriates funds to enable the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to develop a program of tropical golf course and landscape management. Appropriates funds to hire faculty with expertise in resource management and conservation. (SD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PART I

SECTION 1. The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to enable the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to develop a program of tropical golf course and landscape management.

Hawaii is home to eighty golf courses located on all six major islands. At about one hundred sixty acres per course, Hawaii's golf courses occupy almost thirteen thousand acres of molded and mowed turfgrass landscaped with trees, shrubs, and ponds. Greens occupy about six acres per course and are some of the most intensively managed agricultural areas in the State. The landscape services provided to golf courses are valued at $50,000,000 per year and employ almost one thousand full-time workers.

Maintaining Hawaii's golf courses presents unique challenges. Tropical courses are used year-round. Unlike temperate courses that experience a dormancy period each winter, tropical courses are under constant pressure from weeds, insects, and diseases. Tropical turfgrass varieties differ significantly from those in temperate and subtropical climates and require different management strategies. The availability and quality of irrigation water present major constraints. Long-term golf course management practices using brackish water and salt-tolerant turfgrass strains must be developed to reduce dependence on potable water and improve water use efficiency.

At present, the pool of Hawaii-based professionals trained to address these horticultural and environmental management issues is insufficient to meet demand, and many golf course managers rely on consultants from the mainland who may have little experience with tropical golf courses.

The University of Hawaii can address this shortage of local expertise through a program in tropical golf course and turfgrass management that will be nationally and internationally recognized. The college of tropical agriculture and human resources has facilities and faculty conducting research and outreach in agronomy, plant nutrition, plant materials, weed science, and disease and pest management located throughout the State, including college extension faculty with expertise in turfgrass and landscape management on Hawaii, Maui, and Oahu. Degree and certificate programs will provide students with the knowledge, problem-solving skills, and real-world experience to support careers in agribusiness and the management of golf courses and public open spaces.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the sum of $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to provide faculty, student funding, and support services for a program of tropical golf course and landscape management; provided that this appropriation shall be added to the base budget of the University of Hawaii.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 3. The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to enable the department of natural resources and environmental management of the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to hire faculty with expertise in resource management and conservation.

The current academic programs of the department of natural resources and environmental management were introduced in 2002. These programs emphasize the science and management of renewable and non-renewable resources and the relationship of these disciplines to environmental quality. The department offers two academic tracks: resource management and conservation and in resource development and policy.

The academic programs of the department of natural resources and environmental management are popular with students and are growing fast. Student enrollment has tripled in only two years. In addition, the department of natural resources and environmental management offers courses that attract an average of five hundred non-majors per year. This influx of students has created a heavy workload for department faculty.

Hiring additional faculty would allow the department of natural resources and environmental management to meet the demands that growth in student enrollment places on its academic programs. The faculty will have instructional responsibilities and will conduct research assessing the factors and processes that lead to the degradation of resources and agricultural ecosystems (especially soil and water resources), employing scientific approaches to quantitatively predict these resource-degrading factors and processes using appropriate indicators, and applying science-based technologies to ensure sustainable land use.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, and the sum of $250,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to fund two faculty positions for faculty with expertise in resource management and conservation in the department of natural resources and environmental management, college of tropical agriculture and human resources, University of Hawaii; provided that this appropriation shall be added to the base budget of the University of Hawaii.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this part.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.