HB 843: RELATING TO THE COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that in the past twenty years, the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience (CTAHR) at the university of Hawaii at Manoa has lost personnel and struggled with deteriorating facilities and infrastructure.  Without proper staffing, CTAHR will be unable to support its agricultural research and extension stations, which serve as hubs for region-specific agricultural research, education, and community engagement and support local farmers and ranchers.  The legislature further finds that many of CTAHR's facilities are decades old, with some dating back to the early- to mid-1900s, and most facilities have only received minimal repairs over the years.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Appropriate funds for critical repairs, maintenance, demolition, design, and construction for facilities of the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience at the university of Hawaii at Manoa; and

     (2)  Establish positions within the university of Hawaii for the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience 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 $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for critical repairs, maintenance, demolition, design, and construction for facilities of the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience at the university of Hawaii at Manoa; provided that the sums appropriated shall be expended as follows:

     (1)  $           for the Waimanalo research station on Oahu; and

     (2)  $           for the Magoon research station on Oahu.

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

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish      full-time equivalent (     FTE) agricultural technician positions,      full-time equivalent (     FTE) community coordinator positions, and      full-time equivalent (     FTE) administrative professional technical positions within the university of Hawaii for the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience.

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

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

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Facilities; Repairs; Maintenance; Demolition; Design; Construction; Positions; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for critical repairs, maintenance, demolition, design, and construction for facilities of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Establishes and appropriates funds for positions within the University of Hawaii for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.  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.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the College of tropical agriculture and human resilience.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that in the past twenty years, the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience (CTAHR) at the university of Hawaii at Manoa has lost personnel and struggled with deteriorating facilities and infrastructure.  Without proper staffing, CTAHR will be unable to support its agricultural research and extension stations, which serve as hubs for region-specific agricultural research, education, and community engagement and support local farmers and ranchers.  The legislature further finds that many of CTAHR's facilities are decades old, with some dating back to the early- to mid-1900s, and most facilities have only received minimal repairs over the years.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Appropriate funds for critical repairs, maintenance, demolition, design, and construction for facilities of the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience at the university of Hawaii at Manoa; and

     (2)  Establish positions within the university of Hawaii for the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience 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 $11,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for critical repairs, maintenance, demolition, design, and construction for facilities of the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience at the university of Hawaii at Manoa; provided that the sums appropriated shall be expended as follows:

     (1)  $5,000,000 for the Waimanalo research station on Oahu; and

     (2)  $6,000,000 for the Magoon research station on Oahu.

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

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,083,334 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish eight full-time equivalent (8.0 FTE) agricultural technician positions, four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) community coordinator positions, and eight full-time equivalent (8.0 FTE) administrative professional technical positions within the university of Hawaii for the college of tropical agriculture and human resilience.

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

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Facilities; Repairs; Maintenance; Demolition; Design; Construction; Positions; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for critical repairs, maintenance, demolition, design, and construction for facilities of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Establishes and appropriates funds for positions within the University of Hawaii for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  405

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 843

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 843 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds:

     (1)  For critical repairs, maintenance, demolition, design, and construction for facilities of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience at the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and

     (2)  To establish positions within the University of Hawaii for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; MetroGrow Hawaii; and Maui County Farm Bureau.

     Your Committee finds that in the past twenty years, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa has lost personnel and struggled with deteriorating facilities and infrastructure.  Without the proper personnel, CTAHR will be unable to support its agricultural research and extension stations.  Your Committee further finds that many of CTAHR's facilities are decades old, with some dating back to the early- to mid-1900s, and most facilities have only received minimal repairs over the years.  This measure will ensure that CTAHR has the resources necessary to obtain staffing positions and repair its facilities so it can continue its vital work in supporting the State through its programs and initiatives.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the amounts to be appropriated and number of positions to be funded to unspecified amounts; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriating the following amounts:

     (1)  $11,000,000 for critical repairs, maintenance, demolition, design, and construction for facilities of CTAHR, to be expended as follows:

          (A)  $5,000,000 for the Waimanalo research station on Oahu; and

          (B)  $6,000,000 for the Magoon research station on Oahu; and

     (2)  $2,083,334 to establish eight full-time equivalent agricultural technician positions, four full-time equivalent community coordinator positions, and eight full-time equivalent administrative professional technical positions within CTAHR.

     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 H.B. No. 843, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 843, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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