HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1949

BYRepresentatives Rayburn, Nealey and Kremen

Providing funding for an enhanced program of counseling and instruction regarding agricultural operations.

House Committe on Agriculture & Rural Development

Majority Report:  Do pass. (11)

      Signed by Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Kremen, Vice Chair; Nealey, Ranking Republican Member; Chandler, Doty, Grant, Jesernig, McLean, H. Myers, Rasmussen and Youngsman.

House Staff:Kenneth Hirst (786-7105)

Rereferred House Committee on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Doty, Fraser, Heavey, Inslee, Jesernig, Miller, H. Myers, Prince, Rector and Wood.

House Staff:      Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION FEBRUARY 27, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Instruction and counseling concerning farm management are available at Big Bend, Centralia, Skagit Valley, Spokane, Walla Walla, Whatcom, and Yakima Valley Community Colleges.

Washington State University's cooperative extension service currently has 2.75 FTE staff responsible for conducting state-wide farm business management educational programs.  In addition, approximately 20 percent of the service's extension agents devote some time to farm business management programs.

SUMMARY:

The sum of $78,000 is appropriated to the State Board for Community College Education.  The appropriation is for a program for enhancing the financial and management counseling and instruction provided by the community colleges to owners and operators of farms and ranches.  The program must include funding to community colleges for travel for on-farm consultations, computer and video equipment and software, training for farm management instructors, and certain other specified program enhancements.  The Board may provide support for other enhancements.

The sum of $78,000 is appropriated to Washington State University (WSU) to enhance the University's support for the counseling and instruction program provided by the community colleges to owners and operators of farms and ranches.  The University must develop core educational materials and conduct research and on-site workshops.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION:  None.

Appropriation:    The sum of $78,000 is appropriated to the State Board and the sum of $78,000 is appropriated to WSU from the General Fund for the biennium ending June 30, 1991.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Agriculture & Rural Development)  Fred Romero, State Board for Community College Education; Gayle Willett, Washington State University; and Robert Leingang, Centralia Community College.

(Higher Education)  Representative Margaret Rayburn; Richard Carkner, Washington State University; Ken Owen, State Board for Community College Education.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Agriculture & Rural Development)  None Presented.

(Higher Education)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Agriculture & Rural Development)  (1) The bill will improve the quality of the farm management program. It will provide approximately $4,300 additional support for each community college instructor in the program.  (2) The bill fits in well with the agreement developed last summer by the community college system and WSU regarding the roles of the system and WSU.

(Higher Education)  Passage of this legislation will enhance farm management counseling programs in a modest, yet positive way.  It is the result of agreements reached between Washington State University and the community college system.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Agriculture & Rural Development)  None Presented.

(Higher Education)  None Presented.