Bill Text: HI SB247 | 2012 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Agriculture; Natural Farming; Grants; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-01 - Carried over to 2012 Regular Session. [SB247 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2012-SB247-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
247 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011 |
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. Global natural farming is an agricultural methodology developed and refined over the past fifty years by Han Kyu Cho of the Republic of Korea. Cho's techniques have been demonstrated world-wide in more than thirty countries as a viable method of agricultural production without the use of conventional and imported pesticides and fertilizers.
Cho's global natural farming is a distinctive approach to organic farming that utilizes local natural farm resources and indigenous microorganisms. It involves the propagation of mycorrhizae along with protocols for adding specific nutritional inputs during critical growth stages of plants. The inputs are not only safe for the environment, but they actually rehabilitate the ecology.
In addition to the promotion of environmental protection, global natural farming has numerous, more tangible benefits. There are currently six acres of land in Waianae, Oahu being used for the natural farming of Vietnamese taro and Thai basil. Since the natural farming project was commenced in June 2010, product quality has been improved, product yields have increased, and production costs and water consumption have been reduced.
The purpose of this Act is to require the department of agriculture to establish a program to award grants to farmers who implement natural farming.
SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"Chapter
Natural farming grant program
§ -1 Definitions. As used in this chapter:
"Agricultural producer" has the same meaning as defined in section 155-5.6.
"Cho global natural farming methodology" means organic farming practices that utilize the propagation of local farm resources and indigenous microorganisms without the use of conventional or imported pesticides.
"Department" means the department of agriculture.
§ -2 Natural farming grant program established. The department shall establish a natural farming grant program, under which the department shall award grants to qualified agricultural producers who utilize the Cho global natural farming methodology. The department shall accept applications, on forms prescribed and prepared by the department, from agricultural producers to qualify for receipt of the grants, provided that:
(1) The applicant is an agricultural producer;
(2) The applicant has implemented or demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that the applicant intends to implement the Cho global natural farming methodology;
(3) The grant shall not exceed per cent of the applicant's total agricultural production costs or exceed $ in any year; and
(4) The department may request that an applicant provide any information, including general excise and income tax returns, that it deems necessary to verify the agricultural production costs incurred by any applicant in any year.
§ -3 Rules. The department shall adopt rules, pursuant to chapter 91, to implement this chapter.
§ -4 Exemption from chapter 42F. The provisions of chapter 42F shall not apply to the grants made pursuant to this chapter, but all grants shall be made only in accordance with standards and conditions specified in section -2."
SECTION 3. Section 42F-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§42F-102[]]
Applications for grants and subsidies. [Requests] Except for
grants awarded under chapter , requests for grants and subsidies shall
be submitted to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature at the
start of each regular session of the legislature. Each request shall state:
(1) The name of the requesting organization;
(2) The public purpose for the grant or subsidy;
(3) The services to be supported by the grant or subsidy;
(4) The target group; and
(5) The cost of the grant or subsidy and the budget."
SECTION 4. Section 42F-103, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) [Grants] Except for grants
awarded under chapter , grants and subsidies shall
be awarded only to individuals who[,] and organizations that:
(1) Are licensed or accredited[,] in
accordance with federal, state, or county statutes, rules, or ordinances[,]
to conduct the activities or provide the services for which a grant or subsidy
is awarded;
(2) Comply with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, or disability;
(3) Agree not to use state funds for entertainment or lobbying activities; and
(4) Allow the state agency to which funds for the grant or subsidy were appropriated for expenditure, legislative committees and their staff, and the auditor full access to their records, reports, files, and other related documents and information for purposes of monitoring, measuring the effectiveness, and ensuring the proper expenditure of the grant or subsidy."
SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2011-2012 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2012-2013 for the natural farming grant program established by this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2011.
Report Title:
Agriculture; Natural Farming; Grants; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the department of agriculture to establish a program to award grants to agricultural producers who implement the Cho global natural farming method. Makes an appropriation. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
