STAND. COM. REP. NO.  168

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1311

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1311 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to implement the recommendation of the Hawaii Agriculture Workforce Advisory Board that the State create an Agriculture Workforce Development Pipeline Initiative to conduct training in agricultural self-sufficiency on all islands for teachers and school administrators.  The measure appropriates $75,000 to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for this purpose.

The Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and several individuals testified in support of the measure.  The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the intent of the measure and provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the amount of the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to encourage discussion; and

     (3)  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. 1311, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1311, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Education.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair