SB 666: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the average farmer in Hawaii is sixty years old and that the State lacks a farming workforce large enough to expand cultivated agricultural lands and food production.  The primary cause of the shortage of new farmers in Hawaii over the past several decades is the lack of access to agriculture education, including reduced training for agriculture educators, resulting in disinterest among youth to pursue careers in agriculture or natural resource 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, needs to increase significantly. 

     The legislature recognizes that agriculture education is key to developing future farmers and a society that values and understands the vital role of agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resource systems in advancing personal, local, and global well-being.  Over 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 also finds that, to encourage continued momentum for agriculture education, the senate passed S.R. No. 80 (2015), requesting the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resilience 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, and report to the legislature before the regular sessions of 2017, 2018, and 2019.  The working group's final report outlines a coordinated framework of support for agriculture education in Hawaii and recommends the establishment of an agriculture education coordinator position within the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resilience to lead the implementation of the recommended framework.  The legislature finds that the implementation of the coordinated framework would increase the 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 pathway in agriculture, food innovation, and natural resources;

     (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 implementation of the coordinated framework is also intended to help decrease the average age of farmers in the State and grow the educated agricultural workforce, thereby increasing food security and self-sufficiency, sustainability, and resiliency in Hawaii.

     The legislature also recognizes that the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resilience cooperative extension is a valuable resource for connecting research and innovation to food sovereignty, food security, food production, and environmental and human resilience.  The legislature further notes that increasing state investment in agriculture educators, including extension agents of cooperative extension programs, aligns with the working group's coordinated framework of support for agriculture education in the State.

     The legislature also finds that converting certain temporary agriculture educator positions into permanent positions and establishing an additional full-time agriculture education coordinator position within the university of Hawaii at Manoa college of agriculture and human resilience is a matter of statewide concern pursuant to article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to support a coordinated framework for agriculture education by converting certain temporary agriculture educator positions into permanent positions and establishing a full-time agriculture education coordinator position within the university of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resilience.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The university of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resilience shall convert one temporary farm to school extension agent position on the island of Kauai into a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent farm to school extension agent position on the island of Kauai to support agriculture education in the State pursuant to this Act.

     (b)  The university of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resilience shall convert one temporary farm to school extension agent position on the island of Oahu into a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent farm to school extension agent position on the island of Oahu to support agriculture education in the State pursuant to this Act.

     (c)  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 and fund the positions authorized by subsections (a) and (b).

     (d)  The sums appropriated pursuant to this section 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 $300,000 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 the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) agriculture education coordinator position within the university of Hawaii at Manoa 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 31, 2050.

Report Title:

UH; CTAHR; Positions; Appropriations

Description:

Converts two temporary Farm-to-School extension agent positions within the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience into permanent positions.  Establishes an Agriculture Education Coordinator position.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/31/2050.  (SD1)

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 UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the average farmer in Hawaii is sixty years old and that the State lacks a farming workforce large enough to expand cultivated agricultural lands and food production.  The primary cause of the shortage of new farmers in Hawaii over the past several decades is the lack of access to agriculture education, including reduced training for agriculture educators, resulting in disinterest among youth to pursue careers in agriculture or natural resource 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, needs to increase significantly. 

     The legislature recognizes that agriculture education is key to developing future farmers and a society that values and understands the vital role of agriculture, food, fiber, and natural resource systems in advancing personal, local, and global well-being.  Over 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 also finds that, to encourage continued momentum for agriculture education, the senate passed Senate Resolution No. 80 (2015), requesting 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, and report to the legislature before the regular sessions of 2017, 2018, and 2019.  The working group's final report outlines a coordinated framework of support for agriculture education in Hawaii and recommends the establishment of an agriculture education coordinator position within the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to lead the implementation of the recommended framework.  The legislature finds that the implementation of the coordinated framework would increase the 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 pathway in agriculture, food innovation, and natural resources;

     (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 implementation of the coordinated framework is also intended to help decrease the average age of farmers in the State and grow the educated agricultural workforce, thereby increasing food security and self-sufficiency, sustainability, and resiliency in Hawaii.

     The legislature also recognizes that the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources cooperative extension is a valuable resource for connecting research and innovation to food sovereignty, food security, food production, and environmental and human resilience.  The legislature further notes that increasing state investment in agriculture educators, including extension agents of cooperative extension programs, aligns with the working group's coordinated framework of support for agriculture education in the State.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to support a coordinated framework for agriculture education by converting certain temporary agriculture educator positions into permanent positions and establishing a full-time agriculture education coordinator position within the university of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The university of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources shall convert one temporary farm to school extension agent position on the island of Kauai into a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent farm to school extension agent position on the island of Kauai to support agriculture education in the State pursuant to this Act.

     (b)  The university of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources shall convert one temporary farm to school extension agent position on the island of Oahu into a full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent farm to school extension agent position on the island of Oahu to support agriculture education in the State pursuant to this Act.

     (c)  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 and fund the positions authorized by subsections (a) and (b).

     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 $300,000 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 the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) agriculture education coordinator position within the university of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources.

     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:

UH; CTAHR; Positions; Appropriations

Description:

Converts two temporary farm-to-school extension agent positions within the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources into permanent positions.  Establishes an agriculture education coordinator position.  Appropriates funds.

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. 310

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 666

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 666 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require and appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) to convert two temporary Farm to School Extension Agent positions into two full-time equivalent permanent Farm to School Extension Agent positions to support agriculture education in the State; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds for the establishment of one full-time equivalent Agriculture Education Coordinator position within CTAHR.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi system, Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, and two individuals.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that to achieve the State's aspirations for food security and self-sufficiency, the number of local farms and farmers, and the amount of food produced for local markets, must increase significantly.  However, the State is experiencing a shortage of new farmers as the average farmer in the State is sixty years of age, leaving the State without a farming workforce large enough to expand cultivated agricultural lands and food production.  Your Committee further finds that the primary cause of the State's shortage of new farmers is a lack of access to agriculture education, including reduced training for agricultural educators.  Consequently, the State's youth have no interest in pursuing a career in agriculture or natural resource management.  Your Committee also finds that implementing a coordinated framework of support for preschool through post-secondary agriculture education would increase the State's educated agricultural workforce, thereby increasing food security and self‑sufficiency, sustainability, and resiliency in the State.  Your Committee recognizes that CTAHR's cooperative extension is an invaluable resource that connects research and innovation to food sovereignty, food security, food production, and environmental and human resilience.  Accordingly, this measure invests in agriculture educators, including extension agents of cooperative extension programs, to promote a coordinated framework of support for agriculture education in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the name of the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to reflect its name change;

     (2)  Inserting language clarifying that this measure is a law of statewide concern pursuant to article X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution;

     (3)  Inserting an effective date of July 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 666, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 666, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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