CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 222-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 3197

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 3197, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a farmer apprentice mentoring program; and

(2) Make an appropriation to the Department of Agriculture to establish and implement the program.

Your Committee on Conference finds that farming is essential to the State's agriculture goals, including greater food security and self-sufficiency. However, the State lacks the necessary programs to support beginning farmers. This measure establishes and appropriates funds for a farmer apprentice mentoring program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing certain requirements for the Department of Agriculture regarding the farmer apprentice mentoring program;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $300,000; and

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3197, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3197, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO Co-Chair	____________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO Co-Chair