An Act To Establish a Veteran-to-farmer Training Pilot Program
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0409
Committee Amendment CA_A_H413 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ft' to H.P. 284, L.D. 409, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish a Veteran-to-farmer Training Pilot Program" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Establish a Veteran-to-farmer Training Pilot Program' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Veteran-to-farmer training pilot program. Resolved: That the 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the University of Maine 
Cooperative Extension, in consultation with the agriculture program at Kennebec Valley 
Community College, the Maine Apprenticeship Program in the Department of Labor, the 
Finance Authority of Maine and the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency 
Management, Bureau of Veterans' Services, shall design a veteran-to-fanner training pilot 
program to enable veterans of the Anlled Forces of the United States to develop 
necessary skills in fanning while also addressing the difficulties some veterans face in 
their transition back to civilian life after militmy service. The pilot program designed 
under this resolve must: 
1. Use existing programs and resources to the extent possible; 
2. Establish a celiificate program that provides a hands-on fanning skills training 
curriculum, classroom-based business training, business start-up support and health 
monitoring for veterans; and 
3. Enable veterans, upon completion ofthe celiificate program under subsection 2, to 
create new fann businesses and to meet the requirements to acquire the leases and loans 
needed to faml. 
After its design, the curriculum for the pilot program must be submitted to the United 
States Department of Veterans Affairs for approval in order to allow eligible veterans to 
use education benefits available pursuant to the federal Servicemen's Readj ustment Act of 
1944, as amended, for paliicipation in the certificate program; and be it fllliher 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 284, LD. 409 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension shall jointly submit a report; 
including findings and recommendations, on the pilot program designed under section 1 
to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs no later than January 
10, 2014. The joint standing committee may repmi out a bill related to the repmt to the 
SUMmdARY 
This amendment replaces the concept draft with a resolve that directs the Depaliment 
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the University of Maine Cooperative 
Extension, in consultation with the agriculture program at Kennebec Valley Community 
College, the Maine Apprenticeship Program in the Department of Labor, the Finance 
Authority of Maine and the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency 
Management, Bureau of Veterans' Services, to design a veteran-to-fanner training pilot 
program that enables veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States to develop 
necessary skills in fanning while also addressing the difficulties some veterans face in 
their transition back to civilian life after military service. The amendment also requires 
the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the University of Maine 
Cooperative Extension to jointly submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs no later than January 10, 2014. 
The joint standing 
committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature. 
FISCAL :\OTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 06/06/13 
;tva-c 
LD409 
LR 885(02) 
An Act To Establish a Veteran-to-farmer Training Pilot Program 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,~, 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
CH~tfl3) 
Additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Department of Defense, Veterans 
and Emergency Management, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension System, the Maine Community College 
System, the Finance Authority of Maine and the Department of Labor associated with designing the pilot program can 
be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0885(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1