STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3057

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1843

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1843, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VOCATIONAL AGRICULTURE EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish an agriculture education program in the department of education to foster young people's interest in careers in the agricultural industry.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Workforce Development Council, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, the Big Island Farm Bureau, the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the Maui County Farm Bureau, C&H Farms, and three individuals. Testimony in support of the intent of this measure was received from the Department of Education.

Your Committees find that establishing a comprehensive agriculture program in the public schools is a worthwhile endeavor. However, your Committees wish to note that it remains necessary to clarify which school funds should be part of the weighted student formula, and which should not, and that it is not the intent of the Legislature to continue to carve out appropriations specifically for targeted programs.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making its effective date July 1, 2006, and by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Military Affairs and Water, Land, and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1843, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1843, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair

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NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair