Bill Text: HI SCR53 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requesting That The Department Of Agriculture Convene An Advisory Commission To Address Certain Issues To Guide Action And Progress In The Agriculture, Aquaculture, And Food Systems Industries Of The State.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-04-15 - Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ganaden, Garcia, Hashem, Holt, Poepoe, Yamashita excused (7). [SCR53 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SCR53-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
53 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CONVENE AN ADVISORY COMMISSION TO ADDRESS CERTAIN ISSUES TO GUIDE ACTION AND PROGRESS IN THE AGRICULTURE, AQUACULTURE, AND FOOD SYSTEMS INDUSTRIES OF THE STATE.
WHEREAS, the overarching goal of the Hawaii Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is to increase the quality of life of its residents and create conditions for all people to thrive and fulfil their potential; and
WHEREAS, one of the eight economic industry clusters identified in the Hawaii Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is agriculture, aquaculture, and food systems; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy's goal for the State's agriculture, aquaculture, and food systems industries is to grow Hawaii's agricultural and aquacultural sectors (including non-food production) to diversify the economy, build resilient systems, and increase self-sufficiency while protecting Hawaii's natural and cultural resources through various objectives, such as encouraging the purchase of local agricultural products from state and county governments, businesses, visitors and consumers and integrating local agricultural supply chain and infrastructure to increase value chain coordination; and
WHEREAS, according to section 226-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, it is the policy of the State to establish a clear direction for Hawaii's agriculture through stakeholder commitment and advocacy to achieve the State's agricultural objectives; and
WHEREAS, as the State moves toward its self-sufficiency and food security goals, the Legislature finds that an advisory commission is necessary to increase communication; provide expert and credible guidance; and engage strategic partnerships between the State's private sectors, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders to support the State's desired increase in exports and local food production, as well as the overarching goal of creating a sustainable local economy; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to establish an advisory commission to address certain issues to guide action and progress in the agriculture, aquaculture, and food systems industries of the State; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the advisory commission is requested to meet quarterly to address certain agriculture, aquaculture, and food systems issues including but not limited to:
(1) Competition for same resources;
(2) Labor issues;
(3) Drought and climate change;
(4) Invasive species;
(5) Overview of new regulations;
(6) Water access and development; and
(7) Waste management; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the advisory commission is also requested to:
(1) Examine and rank the following priority actions of the Hawaii State Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the State's agriculture, aquaculture, and food systems industries:
(A) Expand the "Farm to State" Program, government procurement, and institutional purchasing of local agricultural products;
(B) Market farm-to-table initiatives that promote local food consumption and reduce food waste with government, businesses, and residents;
(C) Promote agritourism to integrate local agriculture and aquaculture into the visitor experience;
(D) Expand accessibility and affordability programs that increase equitable access to and consumption of fresh and nutritious foods for low‐income households;
(E) Support culturally based foods with community biocultural land stewardship and farms;
(F) Identify appropriate export non-food and food crops while prioritizing food production for local consumption;
(G) Establish food hubs and cooperatives on all islands to increase access to markets and aggregate services, recognizing that investments utilizing public funds should be done with agricultural operations as the core beneficiary versus operator of these facilities;
(H) Increase cooperative transportation for cost‐sharing and coordination of local agricultural products;
(I) Increase local agricultural‐related facilities and access, including processing plants, slaughterhouses, commercial kitchens, storage, and distribution; and
(J) Review existing built infrastructure to increase resilience, safety, and equitable access;
(2) Make detailed recommendations on changes to state and local regulations to encourage the purchase of local agricultural products from state and county governments, businesses, visitors, and consumers and to integrate local agricultural supply chain and infrastructure to increase value chain coordination;
(3) Review the Department of Agriculture and how it tracks statistics compared to the United States Department of Agriculture;
(4) Review regulations on existing distribution channels, including food trucks, farm roadside stands, farmers markets, food hubs and farm tours, and barriers in regulation and land use that prevent the State from increasing local food in the State's food supply; and
(5) Evaluate federal initiatives underway that would impact local producers; getting food from farm to table; the purchase of local agricultural products from state and county governments, businesses, visitors, and consumers; and local agricultural supply chains and infrastructure; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, who is requested to serve as the chair of the advisory commission, is requested to invite a representative from each of the following segments of agriculture to serve on the advisory commission:
(1) Aquaculture;
(2) Harvested acreage, including field crops and taro;
(3) Vegetables;
(4) Fruits;
(5) Fruit and nut trees;
(6) Livestock;
(7) Nursery and floriculture;
(8) Herbs, such as basil, cilantro, lavender, and turmeric;
(9) Eggs;
(10) Coffee; and
(11) Seed corn; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture may invite other individuals with relevant knowledge or experience to be members of the advisory commission; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no member be made subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statues, solely because of that member's participation in the advisory commission; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture is requested to provide administrative support to the advisory commission; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the advisory commission submit its findings and recommendations to the Board of Agriculture; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.
Department of Agriculture; Advisory Commission; Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Food Systems
