STAND. COM. REP. NO. 278

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 762

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 762 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish and appropriate funds for the P-20 agriculture education coordinator position within the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; and

(2) Specify the duties of the P-20 agriculture education coordinator and P-20 agriculture education working group.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, University of Hawai‘i System, Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii FFA – Kalani High School, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Down to Earth Organic and Natural, and ten individuals.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii does not have an adequate-sized farming workforce for expansion of cultivated agricultural lands and food production. In order to meet the State's aspirations for increased food security and self-sufficiency, the number of local farms and farmers and the amount of food produced for local markets will need to increase significantly through agriculture and natural resource management education.

Your Committee further finds that the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources convened the P‑20 agriculture education working group to develop a coordinated framework of support for agriculture education for preschool through post-secondary. This measure asserts the implementation of that framework through the establishment of a P-20 agriculture education coordinator to lead the implementation plan for a coordinated framework of support for P-20 agriculture education in the State.

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. 762 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair