Bill Text: HI HB1936 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Agriculture Education.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-23 - Referred to LHE, AGR, FIN, referral sheet 4 [HB1936 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB1936-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1936
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
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 over sixty years.  The legislature further finds that Hawaii does not have an adequate-sized farming workforce for increasing food sustainability statewide.  Declining support for agriculture education from state government, including training for agriculture teachers, has exacerbated the shortage of students pursuing the fields of agriculture and natural resource management.

     The legislature recognizes that while ancestral Hawaiians were completely self-sufficient, Hawaii currently imports approximately eighty-five to ninety per cent of its food, which undermines the health of Hawaii's people, the ‘aina, and food systems.  To meet the State's aspirations for increased food security, the number of local farms and farmers and the amount of food produced for local markets must increase significantly.  Agriculture education is key to the development of future farmers and to the green new deal for 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.

     To encourage this momentum, in 2015, Senate Resolution No. 80 was adopted, which 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 (P-20) agriculture education and a plan for implementation, as well as to develop a statewide coordinated framework of support for P-20 agriculture education.  The working group was also requested to submit reports, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature prior to the 2017, 2018, and 2019 regular sessions.  The working group's final report to the legislature in 2019 outlined a coordinated framework of support for P-20 agriculture education in Hawaii and asserted that implementation of the framework will require that a P-20 agriculture education coordinator position be established within University of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources and funded to oversee ongoing communication and collaboration of the P-20 agriculture education working group and spearhead the implementation plan.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to increase local food security by:

     (1)  Creating a farm to school pilot program to provide grants to schools seeking to expand agriculture education initiatives; and

     (2)  Funding a P-20 agriculture education coordinator position within the University of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources.

     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; established.  (a)  There is established within the college of tropical agriculture and human resources the position of a P-20 agriculture education coordinator who shall:

     (1)  Coordinate preschool through post-secondary (P-20) agriculture education;

     (2)  Oversee ongoing communication and collaboration of the P-20 agriculture education working group; and

     (3)  Lead implementation of the coordinated framework of support for P-20 agriculture education in Hawaii.

     (b)  The P-20 agriculture education coordinator and the

P-20 agriculture education 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 for those preparing to become teachers ("pre-service teachers"), as well as additional professional development for teachers already in classrooms ("in-service teachers");

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

     (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 its 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 board;

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

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

     SECTION 3.  (a)  There is established within the department of agriculture a two-year farm to school grant pilot program.  The department of agriculture shall collaborate with the department of education, department of health, public charter schools, University of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources, and farm to school stakeholders to provide grants to the following eligible entities:

     (1)  Department of education public schools;

     (2)  Public charter schools;

     (3)  Publicly funded early care and education centers;

     (4)  Nonprofit organizations;

     (5)  Soil and water conservation districts organized pursuant to chapter 180, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

     (6)  Farmers, ranchers, and other food vendors registered with the department of agriculture farm to school grant pilot program.

     (b)  An eligible entity may apply to the department of agriculture for a grant to support:

     (1)  The procurement of foods produced or processed in the State that meet the Hawaii products preference requirements of section 103D-1002, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

     (2)  Food-based, agriculture-based, farm-based, and school garden-based educational and apprenticeship activities;

     (3)  Initiatives to sustain or expand existing farm to school programs; or

     (4)  Food safety and good agricultural practices training and implementation;

provided that an entity that receives a grant shall use the moneys for costs directly associated with the approved activities, including labor and professional fees for employees or contractors, professional development and relevant teacher substitute costs, training expenses, travel costs, or necessary supplies and equipment purchased for the activities.

     (c)  The department of agriculture shall collaborate with the department of education, department of health, public charter schools, University of Hawaii at Manoa college of tropical agriculture and human resources, and other farm to school stakeholders to adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, necessary to implement the farm to school grant pilot program, including but not limited to:

     (1)  Rules establishing the amounts of grants to be awarded;

     (2)  Procedures for applying for grants; and

     (3)  Criteria for awarding grants that shall include:

          (A)  A preference for entities that propose activities that are well designed, promote healthy food activities, have clear educational objectives, involve parents and the community, expand agricultural career pathways, increase local food production, are connected to existing farm to school procurement activities, and are culturally relevant to the students being served by the grant moneys;

          (B)  Representation of a variety of school sizes and geographic locations among the selected grant recipients; and

          (C)  Priority for school communities that are designated as Title I among the selected grant recipients.

     (d)  The P-20 agriculture education coordinator shall submit a report to the legislature on the value and outcome of the farm to school grant pilot program and any recommendations regarding the program, including proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2022.

     (e)  The farm to school grant pilot program shall be repealed on June 30, 2022.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the following sums or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 to carry out the purposes of this Act:

     (1)  $           for the farm to school grant pilot program to administer and provide grants to recipients of the farm to school grant pilot program; and

     (2)  $           to assist farmers, ranchers, and other food vendors registered with the farm to school grant pilot program in acquiring good agricultural practices certifications from the United States Department of Agriculture.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  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 2020-2021 to establish the 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 6.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 4 and 5 shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Agriculture Education; Farm to School; DOA; UH-CTAHR; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes a P-20 agriculture education coordinator position within UH-CTAHR.  Establishes a two-year farm to school grant pilot program within DOA to sunset on June 30, 2022.  Appropriates funds for the farm to school grant pilot program and the P-20 agriculture education coordinator position.

 

 

 

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