Bill Text: HI HB1725 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Agriculture Education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-26 - Referred to AGR, HET, FIN, referral sheet 2 [HB1725 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-HB1725-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1725
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to agriculture 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 now over sixty years and Hawaii does not have an adequate-sized farming workforce for expansion of cultivated agricultural lands and food production.  A primary cause of the shortage of new farmers in Hawaii during the past several decades is the decline in support for agriculture education from the state government.  This has resulted in an insufficient interest in agriculture and natural resource management among youth.  Moreover, prospective farmers face limited access to land and a need for a more diverse skill set than in the past.

     The legislature 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, fiber, 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 Future Farmers of America.

     The legislature further finds that to encourage this momentum, the Hawaii state senate passed Senate Resolution No. 80, Regular Session of 2015, that requested the University of Hawaii at Manoa 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.  The group's final report to the 2019 legislature outlined a coordinated framework of support for agriculture education in Hawaii and asserted that implementation of the framework will require that an agriculture education coordinator position be established within the University of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish and fund an agriculture education coordinator position within the University of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources to oversee ongoing communication and collaboration of the agriculture education working group and to lead the implementation plan for a coordinated framework of support for agriculture education in Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-    P-20 agriculture education coordinator.  There is established within the University of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources the position of coordinator of preschool through post-secondary (P-20) agriculture education to oversee ongoing communication and collaboration of the P-20 agriculture education working group and to lead implementation of the coordinated framework of support for P-20 agriculture education in Hawaii."

     SECTION 3.  The P-20 agriculture education coordinator and working group shall carry out the implementation plan for the coordinated framework of support for P-20 agriculture education in Hawaii as follows:

     (1)  Teacher development:  Prioritize teacher training in agriculture and food systems education at all levels (P-20) for those preparing to become teachers ("pre-service teachers"), as well as additional professional development for those already in classrooms ("in-service teachers");

     (2)  Curricular integration:  Integrate agriculture education into the core curriculum in all subject areas at all levels (P-20);

     (3)  Agriculture educators:  Establish and fund positions at the state, community, and school levels that directly support teacher development and curricular integration around agriculture and food systems; and

     (4)  Capacity building:

          (A)  Continue communication and collaboration of the P-20 agriculture education working group and subcommittees;

          (B)  Plan and conduct ongoing needs assessments and progress evaluations;

          (C)  Cultivate new partnerships and seek alignment with other relevant initiatives, including the department of labor and industrial relations agriculture workforce advisory group;

          (D)  Identify and write proposals for additional sources of funding; and

          (E)  Oversee publication of an annual report to the legislature.

     SECTION 4.  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 2022-2023 to establish and fund a P-20 agriculture education coordinator position within the University of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources to oversee ongoing communication and collaboration of the P-20 agriculture education working group and to lead the implementation plan for a coordinated framework of support for P-20 agriculture education in Hawaii.

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

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; P-20 Agriculture Education Coordinator; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes and appropriates funds for the P-20 Agriculture Education Coordinator position within the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.  Specifies duties of the Coordinator and P-20 agriculture education working group.

 

 

 

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