STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2222

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3190

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 3190 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Kua ‘Āina Ulu ‘Auamo, and the Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds 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 Committee further finds 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 for more than twenty-five years. This center is uniquely positioned to facilitate the transmission of skills necessary to produce sizable amounts of mullet fingerlings to supply fishponds and take mullet through their life cycle to future generations.

Accordingly, this measure supports the State's agricultural production and sustainability goals by establishing and funding a native fish hatchery pilot program at Waianae High School.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting blank appropriation amounts;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee notes that the estimated appropriation required by this measure is $855,000.

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. 3190, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3190, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair