STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2871

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3004

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. 3004 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPOSTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to promote the use of compost in the State, and thus reduce food waste, by establishing a permanent compost reimbursement program.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes within the Department of Agriculture a compost reimbursement program to provide cost reimbursements to farming operations for up to fifty percent of the costs incurred for the purchase of compost;

(2) Establishes a full-time, permanent compost reimbursement program manager position;

(3) Requires the Department of Agriculture to submit an annual report to the Legislature; and

(4) Appropriates moneys for establishment of the compost reimbursement program and program manager position.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Malama Kauai, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Green Party Hawaii, Hawaii Food+ Policy, Pele Lani Farm LLC, and more than twenty individuals.

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

Your Committee finds that the financial assistance provided through the compost reimbursement program established by this measure will support local agriculture by helping to defray operational costs incurred by farmers and ranchers and, at the same time, encourage the environmentally friendly practice of composting.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments 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. 3004, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3004, 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