STAND. COM. REP. NO.  64-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2093

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2093 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii to establish a Center for Agricultural Leadership and to establish a two-year pilot project at one high school campus in each county to determine the steps necessary for a school farm to be food safety certified by the Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Education, Hawaii Academy of Arts & Sciences PCS, The Kohala Center, Hawaii Island School Garden Network, and an individual submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The University of Hawaii System and the Department of Agriculture submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  Poamoho Organic Produce and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  The Hawaii State 4-H Livestock Council and a concerned individual submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2093, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2093, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Higher Education and Education.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair