STAND. COM. REP. NO. 412

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 380

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 380 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management of the University of Hawaii at Hilo to conduct a needs assessment for a potential learning center project in Puna on the island of Hawaii.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo; College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo; Hawaiian Shores Community Association; Hawaii Island School Garden Network; Ho‘oulu Lahu‘i, Inc.; Global Ecology Foundation; and ten individuals.

Your Committee finds that the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management of the University of Hawaii at Hilo is exploring a higher education learning center project in the district of Puna, Hawaii, to identify educational and training needs and design a business incubator to support job growth in the district.  The initial focus will be on outreach and conducting a needs assessment.  This measure will provide the necessary funds to get the project off the ground.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 380, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 380, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair