STAND. COM. REP. NO. 237

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 592

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Education and Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 592 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to operate and implement the Future Farmers of America and 4-H programs.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii 4-H Livestock Association, Kohala Center, Lahainaluna Future Farmers of America, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Hui O Malama Aina, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Local Food Coalition, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, National Future Farmers of America Organization, and four individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Animal Rights Hawaii and one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that it is imperative that the State engage youth in agricultural education programs, such as 4-H and Future Farmers of America, to promote interest in agricultural endeavors.  This is exceptionally critical at this time given that the average age of farmers in the State is approximately sixty years, and promoting the next generation of farmers is a critical step toward increasing Hawaii's self-sustainability and food resiliency.

 

     After discussion, Your Committees recommend that if your Committee on Ways and Means elect to schedule this measure for a hearing that they solicit comments from the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii regarding the amount of funds needed and the feasibility of the agencies to implement the foregoing programs.  Your Committees are concerned that the appropriation expended for these two programs will be insufficient to fulfill this measure's mandate.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the specific appropriation amounts in sections 2 and 3 of the measure;

 

     (2)  Specifying in section 2 that the appropriation is for the Department of Education to fund the Future Farmers of America program only;

 

     (3)  Specifying in section 3 that the appropriation is for the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to fund the 4-H program only; and

 

     (4)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion. 

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Education and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 592, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 592, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 


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

 

____________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

 

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

 

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair