Education (Agriculture)

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests that the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience support the state's secondary agricultural education program and the Future Farmers of America program. The bill aims to strengthen agricultural education in high schools to help address Hawaii's food security challenges by building a local agricultural workforce through expanded training and experiential learning opportunities. It specifically calls for the university to employ an extension agent to provide professional development and connect agricultural best practices to local schools, following a model used by other land-grant universities. The resolution does not allocate funding but instead formally asks state agencies to collaborate on revitalizing these educational programs that have seen declining enrollment since 2000.

This bill requests that the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience support the state's Secondary Agricultural Education Program and the Future Farmers of America program. The resolution aims to strengthen agricultural education in Hawaii's high schools to help address the state's food security concerns and declining agricultural workforce. It proposes employing an extension agent at the university to provide professional development and connect agricultural best practices to local schools. The bill focuses on restoring and expanding these programs through targeted support rather than creating new funding or policy mandates.

This bill requests that the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience support the state's secondary agricultural education program and the Future Farmers of America youth organization. The resolution aims to strengthen agricultural workforce development by encouraging professional development for teachers and expanding educational opportunities in agriculture for high school students. It specifically suggests employing an extension agent at the university to provide outreach and connect best practices to local schools. The bill does not allocate funding but serves as a formal request for collaboration between state agencies and the university to address Hawaii's food security goals.

This Senate Resolution requests that the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience support the state's secondary agricultural education program and the Future Farmers of America program. The bill aims to address Hawaii's food security concerns by expanding educational opportunities and training for students interested in agricultural careers, which have declined since the year 2000 due to policy changes and funding issues. It proposes employing an extension agent at the university to provide professional development for teachers and connect schools with agricultural best practices, following a model used by other land grant universities. The resolution directs copies to the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the President of the University of Hawaii System to facilitate implementation.

Establishes the Land Dedication for Agricultural Education program within the Department of Education. Requires the Department of Education to consult with the Department of Taxation to establish tax incentives for land developers who dedicate land for educational purposes. Requires the Department of Education to consult with the Department of the Attorney General to establish penalties. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.