STAND. COM. REP. NO. 942

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 520

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 520, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the growth of the State's agricultural industry.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes within the University of Hawaii community college system a five-year farm succession pilot program to further the knowledge and technical skills of young farmers;

(2) Requires the University of Hawaii community college system to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the 2029 Legislature; and

(3) Appropriates funds in unspecified amounts to:

(A) The University of Hawaii, for implementation of the farm succession pilot program; and

(B) The Department of Agriculture, for extension of the farmer apprentice mentoring program established by Act 304, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Food Hub Hui, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Ulupono Initiative.

Your Committee recognizes that more farmers are growing older and retiring from the agricultural industry, thus exacerbating an ongoing shortage of agricultural labor. Your Committee finds that the farm succession pilot program established by this measure, combined with extension of the existing farmer apprentice mentoring program, will alleviate this shortage and support the next generation of farmers in the State.

Your Committee notes that the cost to fund this measure would be $910,000.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing the farm succession pilot program within Leeward Community College rather than the University of Hawaii community college system, and replacing references to "University of Hawaii" with "Leeward Community College" where appropriate;

(2) Including within the appropriation for the farm succession pilot program an unspecified allocation for the establishment of four full-time equivalent staff positions;

(3) Clarifying that the appropriation in Section 3 of the measure shall be expended by the Department of Agriculture for purposes of Act 304, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, which established the farmer apprentice mentoring program;

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

(5) 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. 520, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 520, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair