Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1843 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure the continued supply of qualified individuals to support and maintain Hawaii's agriculture industry by establishing a comprehensive Vocational Agriculture Education Program in the public schools.

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Workforce Development Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, C & H Farms, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. The Department of Education supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1843, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1843, H.D. 1.