Bill Text: HI HB2138 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 2138

Bill Title: Relating To Agricultural Education.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-2)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-16 - Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Aiu, Garrett, Perruso, Takayama, Todd excused (5). [HB2138 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB2138-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2138
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the average age of farmers in Hawaii is sixty years and the State does not have a farming workforce large enough for the expansion of cultivated agricultural lands and food production. A primary cause of the shortage of new farmers in Hawaii during the past several decades has been the decline in support for agriculture education from state government, including training for agriculture teachers. The lack of support for agriculture education has resulted in insufficient interest among youth in pursuing the fields of agriculture and natural resources management.

The legislature further finds that to meet the State's aspirations for increased food security and self-sufficiency, the number of local farms and farmers and the amount of food produced for local markets will need to increase significantly. Agriculture education is key to the development of future farmers and to a society that values and understands the vital role of agriculture, food, hemp, and natural resource systems in advancing personal, local, and global well-being. During the past decade, a vibrant grassroots movement in support of agriculture education has emerged in Hawaii, along with a marked increase in new farmer training programs and student involvement in FFA, formerly known as Future Farmers of America.

The legislature further finds that to encourage continued momentum for agriculture education, the senate adopted Senate Resolution No. 80, Regular Session of 2015, which requested the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to convene a working group to develop a coordinated framework of support for preschool through post-secondary agriculture education and a plan for implementation, including any proposed legislation, through annual reports to the legislature prior to the regular sessions of 2017, 2018, and 2019.

The legislature further finds that for three years, the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources convened the agriculture education working group, which included governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. The group's final report in 2019 to the legislature outlined a coordinated framework of support for agriculture education in Hawaii and recommended that a coordinator position be established. The legislature finds that effectuation of the coordinated framework of support for agriculture education in Hawaii by the agriculture education coordinator and the agriculture education working group will result in an increased number of:

(1) Students exposed to agriculture education at all grade levels in public, charter, and independent schools;

(2) Public school students entering and completing the career and technical education agriculture, food innovation, and natural resources career pathway;

(3) Students entering and completing higher education programs, apprenticeships, internships, and work-based learning programs in agriculture and food systems;

(4) Teachers trained in agriculture and food systems education; and

(5) Local food producers and other food systems professionals.

The coordinated framework of support will also lead to a decrease in the average age of farmers in the State and an expansion of an educated agricultural workforce, thereby increasing food security, food self-sufficiency, sustainability, and resiliency for Hawaii.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to support a coordinated framework for agriculture education by appropriating funds for a full-time agriculture education coordinator position at the college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the university of Hawaii at Manoa.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $300,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the college of tropical of agriculture and human resources at the university of Hawaii at Manoa to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) agriculture education coordinator position.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Agriculture Education Coordinator; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling

Description:

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to establish an agriculture education coordinator position. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.