STAND. COM. REP. 2439

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2475

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2475 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A NEW OFFICE BUILDING FOR EXTENSION PROGRAMS ON MOLOKAI,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and make an appropriation for a new office building for the extension program on Molokai.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the University of Hawaii, one Maui County Council Member, Nalo Farms, and Hawaiian Host.

Your Committees find that the cooperative extension programs on Molokai, provided through the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii, have been a major contributor to the development of Hawaii's economy and communities. The college has worked with children, entrepreneurs, professionals, educators, homeowners, and others, empowering them to make more informed choices about their professional and personal lives.

The Molokai extension program was forced to vacate a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands building after the building burned down in 1979. Their current temporary location is shared with the Maui Community College agriculture program within a converted metal barn that is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, contains no drinking water, and is known to have been infested with vermin. Furthermore, the farm building provides less than one-half of the space needed by the extension program. Your Committees find that the new office building is necessary for this valuable program.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2475 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

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NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair