STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1123

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 480

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 480, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the Hawaii Community College agriculture program and the University of Hawaii at Hilo's agricultural farm by appropriating funds for one full-time farm coordinator position and for equipment for the Hawaii Community College's agriculture program.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Department of Agriculture, and Hawaii Farm Bureau.

 

     Your Committee finds that student interest in the Hawaii Community College agriculture program has grown in recent years and the program averages around thirty majors each year.  The program prepares students for employment in government service, agribusiness, horticulture, livestock, flowers and foliage, landscape, macadamia nuts, papaya, and coffee industries.  Your Committee notes that, currently, production at the University of Hawaii at Hilo's agricultural farm, which serves as a live instructional laboratory for Hawaii Community College and University of Hawaii at Hilo students, is unable to meet demand.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the Island of Hawaii could be a strong agricultural contributor to the State and help Hawaii increase its self-sufficiency and sustainability efforts.  In addition to other potential agriculture benefits, the Island of Hawaii offers nutrient rich soil, a tropical climate, and an abundance of affordable land.  Your Committee additionally finds that while fostering a new generation of agriculturalists, it is important that the State ensure public resources are being used for efficient and collaborative efforts that support a holistic view of agriculture for the Island of Hawaii.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the appropriation for the hiring of a farm coordinator to support the instructional activities of the Hawaii Community College;

 

     (2)  Inserting a blank appropriation amount for the Hawaii Community College and University of Hawaii at Hilo, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and the Agribusiness Development Corporation, to study the following:

 

          (A)  Areas in which the agriculture programs at Hawaii Community College and the University of Hawaii at Hilo can collaborate to maximize resource efficiency and minimize redundancy;

 

          (B)  New agriculture opportunities on the Island of Hawaii; and

 

          (C)  The development of a holistic approach to the growth of agriculture and agricultural learning opportunities on the Island of Hawaii;

 

     (3)  Inserting language requiring the Hawaii Community College to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2018;

 

     (4)  Deleting the appropriation to the Hawaii Community College for equipment for its agriculture program; and

 

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

 

     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 H.B. No. 480, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 480, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair