STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3050

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2703

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2703 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a grant program in the Department of Agriculture to assist beginning farmers and ranchers with the costs of starting a farm or ranch.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Maui Chamber of Commerce, and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the proposed grant program will help the State meet its food security and food self-sufficiency goals by assisting beginning farmers and ranchers with start-up costs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the grant program shall assist farmers and ranchers with the costs of starting a commercial farm or ranch;

(2) Changing the appropriation amount from $1,000,000 to an unspecified sum;

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

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2703, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2703, 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