STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1890

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 885

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 3

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 885, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to establish an educational infrastructure that prepares students for work in the agriculture and agriculture-related industries by:

(1)  Broadening the Department of Education (DOE) Agriculture Education Program to include instruction in healthy eating habits and educational opportunities in the fields of farming, diversified agriculture, culinary arts, landscaping, and related industries such as market development and science and technology;

(2)  Requiring DOE to report to the 2008 and 2009 Legislatures on its progress toward establishing the new components of the program; and

(3)  Appropriating funds for this purpose.

DOE, the Workforce Development Council, University of Hawaii System, a member of the Honolulu City and County Council, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Crop Improvement Association supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Blanking out the $500,000 appropriation;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to promote further discussion; and

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

     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 S.B. No. 885, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 885, S.D. 2, H.D. 3.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair