HCR 215 Summary

• Requests the Department of Agriculture and Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to convene an agriculture labor task force to address Hawaii's coffee industry labor crisis and related agricultural labor issues.

• Task force must include 17 specified members including legislative chairs from agriculture and labor committees, state and federal agency representatives, university and educational officials, county planning departments, and representatives from agriculture industry organizations.

• Task force members are to select a chairperson from among themselves to lead the group.

• Task force must submit findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2020 Regular Session begins.

• Resolution addresses labor shortage impacts including increased coffee berry borer populations in unharvested cherries and identifies homeless populations and at-risk veterans as potential workforce candidates to meet agricultural labor needs.