STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1060

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 975

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 975, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the requirements for the submission of applications and disbursal of grants under the Cover Crop Reimbursement Pilot Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that this measure would address potential deficiencies in Act 312, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, which established the three-year Cover Crop Reimbursement Pilot Program to reimburse farming operations in the State for the costs of acquiring cover crop seeds, green manure, or compost.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Agriculture to:

(A) Publicly post information on the Cover Crop Reimbursement Pilot Program to ensure that all farming operations in the State have equal opportunity to participate in the Program;

(B) Ensure transparency in the Cover Crop Reimbursement Pilot Program application process; and

(C) Publicly post any grant awarded under the Cover Crop Reimbursement Pilot Program;

(2) Requiring applicants who are for-profit entities, nonprofit community-based organizations, or cooperative associations to comply with state laws, including the General Excise Tax Law, Hawaii Employment Security Law, Workers' Compensation Law, Hawaii Temporary Disability Insurance Law, and Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act; and

(3) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 975, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 975, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair