STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3052

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2723

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. 2723 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the GoFarm Hawaii program and to require GoFarm Hawaii to provide the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture with reports on the program's annual goals, outputs, and outcomes.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaii; Kohala Center; Kulahaven Farms, LLC; Hoola Farms; Wiko Farms; Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council; Kuamoo Farm; North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership; Hawaii Ulu Producers Cooperative; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Kauai County Farm Bureau; Hawaii State Future Farmers of America; Hawaii Farm to School Hui; Hawaii Public Health Institute; Kokua Hawaii Foundation; Kamehameha Schools; Waimanolo Market Co-op; Counter Culture Organic Farm; Bear Claw Farm; and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that GoFarm Hawaii is the only statewide program that offers farmers comprehensive training for farm maintenance, business planning, and the small-scale production of commercial crops.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

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

(3) Making a technical nonsubstantive amendment 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. 2723, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2723, 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