STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1316-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 3096

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 3096, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR AN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to make an emergency appropriation for the Department of Education to build an agriculture innovation center.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; one member of the Kauai County Council; Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Waimea High School; Kekaha Elementary School; Eleele Elementary School; Kalaheo Elementary School; Koloa Elementary School; King Kaumualii Elementary School; Kilauea School; Kamehameha Schools; Kauai Community College; Education Incubator; Iwikua; Kumano i Ke Ala; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that having agricultural programs available to students will promote the consumption of local food and healthy eating habits. Your Committee further finds that proper facilities are vital to increase the amount of locally grown food served in public schools. This measure will provide the funding necessary for an agriculture innovation center to grow food locally and provide agricultural opportunities statewide and internationally.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2051; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3096, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3096, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair