STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1136

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1586

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1586 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote a healthy agricultural industry in the State.

 

     Specifically, this measure appropriates moneys to the University of Hawaii to establish five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) extension specialist agents at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and three individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the extension agents of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources offer critical services to the State's agricultural community, including education, information transfer, and specifically-tailored research.  Your Committee further finds that as climate change creates new pressures on agriculture, the services provided by extension agents will become even more critical to the success of Hawaii's farmers.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1586, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1586, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair