STAND. COM. REP. NO. 389-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2330

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 2330 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FISH HATCHERY EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds to the Department of Education to establish a native hatchery fish pilot program at Waianae High School.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Hawaii Food+ Policy, Ko‘olau Waialua Alliance, and nine individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that loko i‘a, or traditional fishponds, offer a critical opportunity for realizing the promise of Hawaii's sustainable future, as they represent a unique nexus of environmental, cultural, social, and economic benefits. Your Committees further find that the marine science learning center at Waianae High School currently has a functioning aquaculture facility with a saltwater well that has been the central focus of the science curriculum delivered to students enrolled in the major for more than twenty-five years. Your Committees believe that Waianae High School is capable of hosting a fish hatchery pilot program to further the development of hatcheries for fishpond production in the State and provide training and certification pathways for aquaculture technicians and operators at fishponds.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amounts appropriated to unspecified amounts;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Should your Committee on Finance decide to deliberate on this measure, your Committees on Education and Economic Development respectfully request that it consider appropriating $855,000 for fiscal year 2022-2023 to the Department of Education for the establishment of a native fish hatchery pilot program at Waianae high school, to be used as follows:

(1) $65,000 for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) hatchery manager position;

(2) $90,000 for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) hatchery technicians; and

(3) $700,000 for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a hatchery, including the greenhouse structure to house the hatchery operations.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Economic Development that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2330, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2330, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Economic Development,

____________________________ SEAN QUINLAN, Chair

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair