STAND. COM. REP. NO. 808

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 314

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 314 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys for critical staff positions in the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii, a Kauai County Council member, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Maui County Farm Bureau, and six individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the College's Cooperative Extension Service partners with federal, state, and county governments to provide science-based information and education programs in agriculture, natural resources, and human resources.

     Extension personnel provide important services to communities within each county, including individual consultations, educational workshops, and short courses on relevant subjects such as agriculture, home economics, family living, 4-H and other youth activities, nutrition, and health.  Such educational programs can help to improve and strengthen Hawaii's sustainability in agriculture.

     Your Committee further finds that the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service has experienced a sharp decrease in the number of extension agents who service the various counties, including a twenty-seven percent decrease since 2008.  To maintain a viable academic program and strong infrastructure for the University System, the College requires an infusion of personnel and support.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to facilitate further discussion by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation from $700,000 to an unspecified amount; and

     (2)  Changing the specific number of positions to be funded in each of eight categories from one to unspecified numbers.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 314, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 314, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair