Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Komohana Research and Outreach Center

Description:

Authorizes the issuance of GO bonds for the college of tropical agriculture and human resources in Hilo, Hawaii to renovate the Komohana research and outreach center; construct laboratories, additional rooms, and offices; and build replacement greenhouses and support space.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2369

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the komohana research and outreach center.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the researchers and faculty of the college of tropical agriculture and human resources' extension office in Hawaii county are located in Hilo, Hawaii at the Beaumont research center on the University of Hawaii Hilo campus and at the twenty-five year-old Komohana agricultural complex. These facilities are outdated and are located more than a mile from each other, preventing optimal interactions between research and extension faculty.

The college extension office provides programs in agricultural production, marketing, transportation, storage, handling, and processing of agricultural products; development of land and water management and conservation strategies; and development of new technologies to enhance the quality and productivity of tropical agriculture products. Human resources programs focus on nutrition, strengthening abilities of families to deal with socio-economic change, assisting consumers in decision making, and training leaders and volunteers as they extend the college's information throughout Hawaii.

Currently, the college extension office has set goals to achieve better relationships and services to the university's clientele and the general public. However, the college facilities inhibit communication between research and extension faculty and end-users, and researchers and faculty are hindered in trying to improve the competitiveness and profitability of agriculture industries that have a historical base in Hawaii county while protecting Hawaii's environment.

In order to achieve the college's research and outreach goals, a modern, central research and extension facility at Komohana is necessary. With improved facilities, the University's agricultural clientele and the general public will be able to go to a single location to obtain assistance from the college. This enhanced communication will result in an improved development of timely problem-solving research and extension programs.

Also, the new centralized location will bring the college faculty together in one site across the street from the new USDA Agricultural Research Service facilities. This neighboring location will enhance interactions between the research service scientists and college faculty, and the primary beneficiaries of this relationship will be the farmers of Hawaii.

This project will also benefit the University of Hawaii Hilo and the Hawaii community college by allowing the university to develop the Beaumont site as an entrance to the campus, and the community college to access laboratories closer to its campus.

The purpose of this Act is: (1) to renovate the existing space in the Komohana research and outreach center to create state-of-the-art laboratories, laboratory support spaces, conference rooms, classrooms, and offices that meet current needs and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and health and safety standards; and (2) to build replacement greenhouses and support spaces for the greenhouses.

SECTION 2. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $14,573,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for fiscal year 2004-2005, for the purpose of designing, constructing, and equipping the renovations and building of replacement greenhouses at the Komohana research and outreach center in the following amounts:

Design $ 1,535,000

Construction $11,871,000

Equipment $ 1,167,000

Total funding $14,573,000

SECTION 3. The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2006, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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