STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1387-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 3197

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 3197, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Farmer Apprentice Mentoring Program under the Department of Agriculture to support farmer mentors in training apprentices on methods for improving soil health by using the whole farm system approach.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Kauai Women's Caucus, The Locavore Store, Kanalani Ohana Farm, The Friends of Makakilo, Hawai‘i SEED, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the challenges facing new and aspiring farmers as they enter an ever-changing agriculture industry can be daunting. Through hands-on experience and mentorship, new and aspiring farmers stand to benefit from the skills, knowledge, and technical assistance of existing farmers and others in the agricultural industry. This measure provides one way for beginning farmers to receive training for up to one year on methods for improving soil health using a whole farm system approach.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair