Report Title:

Aquaculture; Statewide Technical Assistance for Aquaculture

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to pay for the increased costs of, and to attract federal funding for, statewide technical assistance provided to the aquaculture industry through the University of Hawaii Sea Grant Extension Service.  (HB935 HD1)

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

935

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to agriculture.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that as the state has moved away from plantation agriculture, diversified agriculture has become an essential component of our overall agriculture industry.  Aquaculture, which reached $28,400,000 in wholesale product value in 2005, represents one of the fastest growing sectors of diversified agriculture in the state and has a future brimming with potential.  One of the most essential resources for the aquaculture industry has been statewide technical assistance provided by the University of Hawaii sea grant extension service (UH/SGES).  Both state and federal funds are used to fund this important program.

     However, over the years, state and federal funding for UH/SGES has declined while costs for materials, supplies, and salaries have increased, thereby eroding the buying power of the funds remaining for the program.  In addition, US/SGES agents will be receiving significant salary increases over the upcoming fiscal biennium.  Additional funding is needed to pay for these costs and to provide state matching funds to attract federal funds for UH/SGES.

     The purpose of this Act is to restore funding to UH/SGES by appropriating funds to pay for increased costs and to provide state matching funds to attract federal funding.

     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 2007-2008 and the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to pay for the increased costs of the University of Hawaii sea grant extension service and to provide for state matching funds to attract federal funding for the program.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.