STAND. COM. REP. NO. 417

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 663

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 663 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the establishment of an Agriculture Education Coordinator position within the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to support a coordinated framework for agriculture education in the State.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Kanalani Ohana Farm, and one individual.

Your Committees find that the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources convened the P-20 Agriculture Education Working Group, which resulted in the recommendation to the Legislature to create an Agriculture Education Coordinator position within the College. This position will work across the University of Hawai‘i System, including the community colleges, Department of Education, and other members of the original working group, to improve the coordination of already existing agriculture education programs and to provide a diversity of educational options to meet Hawaii's need to train and develop more farmers in the State. This measure appropriates funds for this position to enhance the coordinated efforts of providing comprehensive educational options to aspiring farmers in the State.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 663 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Higher Education,

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair