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Committee advances bill to fund an agricultural grant‑writing specialist
Summary
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems passed a draft of HB 1602 to fund one full‑time grant specialist at the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, after industry and agency witnesses described large returns on the position’s grant activity.
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems on Feb. 11 passed a committee draft of HB 1602 to appropriate funding for one full‑time grant specialist within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB).
The bill’s author proposed creating a permanent, general‑funded position to continue a grant‑writing capacity DAB currently runs on non‑general funds. Cedric Gates, speaking for DAB, told the committee the department “stands in strong support” of the measure and that the position is intended to become a civil‑service general‑funded role once permanent funding is in place.
Industry witnesses said the position has generated substantial federal awards. "Our particular grant writing specialist in the Department of Ag was able to secure $9,000,000 in a year," Michael Monikata said in testimony, which supporters framed as evidence of a strong return on investment. The Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Hawaii Farm Bureau and the Local Food Coalition joined the testimony in support, urging permanent funding to retain institutional knowledge.
DAB clarified the employment status: the role is currently designated as civil‑service exempt until it is fully supported by general funds, but the department intends for the position to be civil‑service permanent with scheduled merit and bargaining benefits once funded.
The committee adopted the chair’s recommended amendments and passed out a house draft 1 for the bill. The measure advanced with the chair and vice chair recorded voting aye and other members present recorded as voting to adopt the recommendation; several representatives were noted as excused from the vote. The committee instructed that the effective date and technical edits be handled in the draft.
The committee’s action sends HB 1602 to the next legislative step with a committee draft and recommended amendments; a fiscal note and final appropriation details will be resolved in the committee report and subsequent committee or floor consideration.
