An Act To Establish a Veteran-to-farmer Training Pilot Program

CONCEPT DRAFT SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to establish the Veteran-to-farmer Training Pilot Program.

1. The bill will require the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System, the Department of Labor, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Department of Veterans and Emergency Management to design a pilot program for a postsecondary education certificate program that will enable United States military veterans to develop necessary skills in farming while also addressing the difficulties some veterans face in transitioning back to civilian life after military service.

2. The certificate program would provide a hands-on farming skills training curriculum, classroom-based business training, business start-up support and health monitoring for veterans.

3. After its design, the curriculum will be submitted to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for approval in order to allow eligible veterans to use federal G.I. Bill education benefits for participation in the certificate program.

4. Completion of the certificate program would enable veterans to create new farm businesses and to meet the requirements to acquire the leases and loans needed to farm.