STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3223

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 59

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 59 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO START A FARM APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Agribusiness Development Corporation to start a farm apprenticeship program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii System, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Kulahaven Farms LLC, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and ten individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.

Your Committee finds that activities on Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) lands must meet the current standards for agriculture and food, including compliance with United States Department of Agriculture Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices, United States Food and Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act, Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, and United States Environmental Protection Agency's Agricultural Worker Protection Standard safety best practices. Your Committee further finds that many farmers lack the fiscal resources, farming experience, business acumen, and English language skills necessary to navigate such federal regulations, and the ADC is not equipped for constant oversight and vigilance to manage a diverse population of farmers. Your Committee believes that establishment of a farm apprenticeship program under the ADC will provide training and learning opportunities to assist Hawaii's farmers and agricultural community at large.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 59 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair