Bill Text: HI HB1451 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Agriculture; Task Force
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-18 - Carried over to 2014 Regular Session. [HB1451 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2014-HB1451-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1451 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to agriculture.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's agricultural community is essential to the sustainability of our local economy. Our farmers provide locally produced foods and products that reduce our dependence on imported goods, decrease our vulnerability to food supply disruptions caused by natural disasters or worldwide economic events, reduce our use of fossil fuels, and keep money in our communities. Despite the merits of local agriculture, the legislature further finds that many Hawaii farmers are struggling financially, due in large part to their inability to compete with outside products, which often have lower production costs.
The purpose of this Act is to establish a task force that shall develop strategies to empower Hawaii's agricultural community to compete with imported products.
SECTION 2. (a) Beginning no later than January 1, 2014, the department of agriculture shall convene a task force to develop strategies that will enable Hawaii's agricultural
community to compete with imported products.
(b) The task force shall be comprised of:
(1) The chairperson of the board of agriculture or the chairperson's designated representative;
(2) The executive director of the agribusiness development corporation or the executive director's designated representative;
(3) The dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, college of tropical agriculture and human resources, or the dean's designated representative;
(4) A representative of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; and
(5) Any other member that the department of agriculture chooses to designate.
(c) The task force shall:
(1) Assess the State's agricultural industry and assess the availability of financial capital to support Hawaii's agricultural community competing in national and international agricultural markets;
(2) Assess the ability of farmers and livestock producers to form bargaining and marketing cooperatives in the State;
(3) Examine the availability of accurate trade statistics, including current market prices and trends, for various agricultural products and commodities consumed in and exported out of the State;
(4) Explore and propose strategies that will allow Hawaii's agricultural community to compete with imported products, that shall include but not be limited to: (A) Giving qualifying farmers tax breaks on
agricultural equipment and supplies in order to
lower their production costs;
(B) Giving retailers financial and other incentives to
sell Hawaii-grown agricultural products at a
discount to consumers; and
(C) Exempting end-use consumers of Hawaii-grown
agricultural products from having to pay general
excise tax on such products; and
(5) Assess any other areas or matters that require consideration by the task force that will allow the local agricultural community to compete with imported products.
SECTION 3. The task force shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2015 regular session on its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for an implementation plan or proposed legislation.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Agriculture; Task Force
Description:
Establishes a task force that shall develop strategies that will allow the local agricultural community to compete with imported products.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
