STAND. COM. REP. NO. 119-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2568

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2568 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support and sustain the GoFarm Hawaii Program by:

(1) Appropriating funds for the GoFarm Hawaii Program to provide business consulting, technical assistance, and beginner farmer training on at least four islands of the State; and

(2) Requiring the Program to report to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture on its goals, outputs, and outcomes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Ulupono Initiative; North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership; From Our Farm To Your Table; Hawaii Farmers Union United-Haleakala Chapter; Growing Together, LLC; and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that the GoFarm Hawaii Program is critical to growing, creating, and commercializing local farms that are capable of meeting Hawaii's food goals and preventing or reducing reliance by residents and local families on food importation. The Program, developed by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, provides business consulting, training, assistance in financing, and developing business plans and value-added products.

Your Committee further finds that the funding for the GoFarm Hawaii Program comes from government and private grants. Your Committee believes that a more stable and sustainable funding source is necessary to support such an important component in Hawaii's goal to achieve food sustainability and security.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount of the appropriation to an unspecified sum;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2568, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2568, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Lower & Higher Education.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair