STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2676

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3030

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3030 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve food security and self-sufficiency in the State by establishing a farmer apprentice mentoring program that offers guidance and instruction on a whole farm system approach to agriculture.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaii System; a County Council member from the County of Hawaii; OCC Legislative Priorities Committee, Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hoomana Pono, LLC; and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.

Your Committee finds that the development of a whole farm system approach to agriculture will lower water usage through the deployment of green manure, compost, and cover crops; reduce crop loss from pest damage; and decrease weed pressure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Codifying the farmer apprentice mentoring program in Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Changing the amount appropriated for the program to an unspecified amount;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3030, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3030, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair