STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3025

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2288

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2288 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPOSTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Department of Agriculture to establish and implement a compost reimbursement program to assist farmers, ranchers, and landscapers in the State with acquiring affordable compost material comprising green waste and food waste.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, 350Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Food + Policy Internship, and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the compost reimbursement program funded by this measure will help divert food and green waste, reduce costs for farmers and ranchers, and support healthy and resilient local food production.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the maximum annual reimbursement available to a single farmer, rancher, or landscaper from $50,000 to an unspecified sum;

(2) Changing the appropriation amount from $2,000,000 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 changes 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. 2288, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2288, 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