Bill Text: HI HB995 | 2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Agriculture; Food Sustainability; On-Farm Mentoring; Future Farmers of America; 4-H; Appropriations ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-03-27 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [HB995 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2015-HB995-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
995 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
S.D. 1 |
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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 supporting local agriculture is a strategic public investment that will build community resilience and strengthen the productive base of the economy. The current lack of young farmers and ranchers with the experience, skills, and ambition to undertake the rigorous and complex work of farming and ranching as a business poses a significant hurdle to revitalizing local agriculture. To address this problem, the legislature finds that rebuilding existing programs that educate, support, and encourage youth to pursue agriculture careers, specifically Future Farmers of America and 4-H programs, is a timely and efficient means of achieving community resilience and sustainability. The legislature further finds that it is important to improve food security and self-sufficiency in the State by encouraging the development and implementation of a whole system approach to agriculture in Hawaii.
SECTION 2. The department of agriculture shall provide grants to support existing whole system approach, on-farm mentoring programs that provide instruction on:
(1) Farming techniques that utilize locally sourced organic and other ecological and bio-diverse agricultural amendments and techniques relying on integrated farming practices using vegetative and animal waste products and diverse crops for soil amendments, seed, and other farm inputs;
(2) The culturing of indigenous microorganisms; and
(3) The recycling of nutrients back onto the farm; and
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $60,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 as a grant pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to existing on-farm mentoring programs that provide mentoring on a whole system approach to agriculture.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the implementation and operation of the Future Farmers of America program to educate and support youth in agriculture careers.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 as a grant pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the Hawaii 4-H Foundation to implement and operate the 4-H program to educate and support youth in agriculture careers.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.
Report Title:
Agriculture; Food Sustainability; On-Farm Mentoring; Future Farmers of America; 4-H; Appropriations
Description:
Directs the DOA to provide grants to support existing whole system approach, on-farm mentoring programs. Appropriates funds as a grant for existing whole system approach, on-farm mentoring programs. Appropriates unspecified sums to the Future Farmers of America program and, as a grant, to the Hawaii 4-H Foundation to educate and support youth in agriculture careers. Takes effect 7/1/2112. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
