Bill Text: HI SB314 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service; Position Funding; Appropriation ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Carried over to 2016 Regular Session. [SB314 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-SB314-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
314 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources is in critical need of personnel for its cooperative extension service to improve and strengthen Hawaii's sustainability in agriculture through educational programs. The college houses a cooperative extension service that partners with federal, state, and county governments, with the responsibility to provide science-based information and education programs in agriculture, natural resources, and human resources. The extension offices are located throughout the State, with roughly twenty-five extension agents statewide. The cooperative extension service provides valuable tools that the public can use to strengthen communities and sustain Hawaii's agricultural economy. Extension personnel provide various services to the communities within each county, ranging from individual consultations, educational workshops, and short courses on relevant subjects, including agriculture, home economics, family living, 4-H and other youth activities, nutrition, and health.
The legislature also finds that, over the past twenty years, the college of tropical agriculture and human resources cooperative extension service has experienced a forty-three per cent decrease in extension agents who service the various counties, including a twenty-seven per cent decrease since 2008. Many of the community services that the extension service offers have been cut as result of the decrease.
The purpose of this Act is to address the budgetary shortfalls experienced by the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources cooperative extension service by appropriating moneys for critical unfunded positions.
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 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for the fiscal year 2016-2017 for the following positions in the cooperative extension service administered by the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources:
(1) full-time equivalent ( FTE) livestock agent in the county of Maui;
(2) full-time equivalent ( FTE) organic agriculture agent in the county of Maui;
(3) full-time equivalent ( FTE) food crops agent in the city and county of Honolulu;
(4) full-time equivalent ( FTE) irrigation and water resources agent in the city and county of Honolulu;
(5) full-time equivalent ( FTE) tree crops agent in Hawaii county; and
(6) full-time equivalent ( FTE) farm food safety agent in Hawaii county;
(7) full-time equivalent ( FTE) plant disease management agent in the county of Kauai; and
(8) full-time equivalent ( FTE) insect pest management agent in the county of Kauai.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for purposes of this Act pertaining to the college of tropical agriculture and human resources cooperative extension service.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.
Report Title:
CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service; Position Funding; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates moneys for critical positions in UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
