Bill Text: HI SB2400 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Agribusiness Development Corporation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-03-21 - Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Tokioka, Ward, Yamane excused (3). [SB2400 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SB2400-Introduced.html

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2400

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 agriculture is more than just growing food for Hawaii's residents; it is also about sustaining agriculture as an industry in our economy.  About forty to sixty per cent of national income is produced in agriculture, and fifty to eighty per cent of the labor force is engaged in agricultural production.  Although large quantities of resources – chiefly land and labor – are committed to agriculture, however, they are being used at very low levels of productivity.

     To maximize agriculture production, the legislature finds that Hawaii must create a coordinated plan to provide research, educational opportunities, services, and resources to assist new and existing agricultural businesses to thrive and grow.  Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to create new economic opportunities and to sustain and enhance Hawaii's diversified agriculture industry through agribusiness development.  The program established pursuant to this Act will identify emerging and promising crops, secure needed resources and technologies to sustain ongoing development of new agricultural industries, and establish an educational program to prepare and produce successful agricultural entrepreneurs and a knowledgeable workforce.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The agribusiness development corporation and the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources shall design a program to achieve the following purposes:

     (1)  Identify emerging crops, including food, ornamentals, and dairy, that can be grown on lands owned by the agribusiness development corporation;

     (2)  Identify the resources needed to sustain identified emerging crops, including:

         (A)  Necessary acreage to sustain packaging and processing operations and other facilities;

         (B)  The number of growers required; and

         (C)  The number of producers required; and

     (3)  Design and establish a program to prepare and inspire an agricultural workforce with the proper skillset and motivation to become successful growers and producers.

     (b)  The agribusiness development corporation and the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources shall submit a report of their findings, including a summary of their data and program, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2015 regular session.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Agribusiness Development Corporation; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

 

Description:

Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation and the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to design a program that creates new farmers by identifying emerging crops and productive uses for lands managed by the Agribusiness Development Corporation and designing a program to prepare a workforce to cultivate these lands.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

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