STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2597

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2969

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 Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2969 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish an Agricultural Emergency Special Fund to provide loans to farmers and ranchers for disaster recovery.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Floriculture & Nursery Association, and Food+ Policy Internship. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that unexpected disasters can be devastating to the State's agricultural industry. Responding to disasters can be challenging for farmers who lack the necessary resources to rebuild their operations. This measure establishes an Agricultural Emergency Special Fund to support farmers and ranchers in disaster recovery efforts.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation out of the Agricultural Emergency Special Fund; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2969, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2969, S.D. 1, and 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