Hawaii-2022-SB2959-Introduced

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2959
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE 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 age of farmers in Hawaii is sixty years and the State does not have a farming workforce large enough 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 has been the decline in support for agriculture education from the state government, including training for agriculture teachers. The lack of support for agriculture education has resulted in an insufficient interest in pursuing the fields of agriculture and natural resource management among youth.

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, fiber, and natural resources 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 continued momentum for agriculture education, the State Senate passed 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 to develop a coordinate 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 2017, 2018, and 2019 legislative sessions.

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 to the 2019 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, 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 University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources.

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 2022-2023 for the college of tropical of agriculture and human resources 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. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________