STAND. COM. REP. NO. 708

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1102

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1102, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the need to increase the farming workforce and achieve food security and self-sufficiency in Hawaii by:

(1) Establishing and funding a coordinator of preschool through post-secondary (P-20) Agriculture Education Coordinator position (Coordinator) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) to oversee communication and collaboration with the P-20 Agriculture Education Working Group (Working Group) and lead implementation of the coordinated framework of support for P-20 agriculture education in Hawaii (coordinated framework); and

(2) Requiring the Working Group and the Coordinator to carry out in a specified manner, the implementation plan for the coordinated framework; and

(3) Appropriating funds for the Coordinator position.

The Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Maui Farmers Union United, Local Food Coalition, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation, Blue Zones Project-Hawaii, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Down to Earth Organic and Natural, Café Pesto Hilo, A‘a Li‘i Farm, Birds With Arms Farms, and many concerned individuals supported this measure. The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources submitted comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee recognizes that achieving food security and self-sufficiency will require a concerted effort by all the agricultural and nonagricultural stakeholders. The Coordinator will be an important component in realizing and effectuating the necessary level of collaboration among the stakeholders.

Accordingly, your Committee believes that further analysis and discussions are warranted in determining whether the Coordinator position should be transferred from CTAHR to another agency. Your Committee respectfully requests that your Committee on Finance continue the discussion and consider administratively attaching the Coordinator position to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations or Department of Education.

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. 1102, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1102, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair