STAND. COM. REP. NO. 181

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 806

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 806 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the budgetary shortfalls experienced by the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service by appropriating funds for one full-time equivalent position within the extension.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawai‘i System, University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Farm Lovers Farmers' Markets, Aina Ho‘okupu o Kilauea, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii, and eighteen individuals.

     Your Committees find that the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is in critical need of personnel for its cooperative extension service.  The extension faculty workforce has decreased forty-three percent over the past twenty years, and twenty-seven percent over the past six years alone.  Your Committees further find that the cooperative extension service is critical to growers of ornamental plants and the landscape industry in Hawaii, and that floriculture and nursery crops represent a $67,000,000 industry in the State.  Your Committees note the University of Hawai‘i System's testimony explaining the unique circumstances of funding for agricultural research and extension in Hawaii, and find that funding a full-time equivalent position within the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources cooperative extension service is vital to strengthening communities and sustaining Hawaii's agricultural economy.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 806 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair