STAND. COM. REP. NO.  167-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1535

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1535 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage agricultural sustainability by establishing and funding the Hawaii Youth Agricultural Corps Program to provide opportunities for youth to gain hands-on agricultural education and workforce development.

     The Hawaii School Garden Network and three concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported the intent of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture commented on this bill.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Agriculture to issue a request for proposals from qualifying non-profit organizations to establish, develop, and implement the Hawaii Youth Agricultural Corps Program; 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. 1535, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1535, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Education.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair