STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1438-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2075

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2075, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SUSTAINABLE AND ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure to support the growth and sustainability of the local agriculture industry by appropriating funds for three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions and operating expenses of the Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program administered by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

 

     The University of Hawaii System, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and several individuals supported this measure.  The Kihei Community Association supported this measure with amendments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion.

 

     Your Committee notes that the title of this measure may be too narrow and may prevent other kinds of agriculture from being considered.  Your Committee further notes that it may be better for the proponents to work to include the appropriation made by this measure in the Executive Supplemental Budget instead.

 

     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 S.B. No. 2075, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2075, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair