Bill Text: HI SB496 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Agriculture.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-12-10 - Carried over to 2022 Regular Session. [SB496 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-SB496-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
496 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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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. Act 151, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, is amended by amending sections 1 and 2 to read as follows:
"SECTION
1. The legislature finds that Hawaii has
not developed a plan to transition its agriculture industry, once dominated by
sugar and pineapple, to an industry that is beneficial for diversified food
crops. While diversified agriculture has
increased, industry experts estimate that Hawaii imports approximately
eighty-five to ninety per cent of the food that it consumes.
According to a report issued in October
2012 by the office of planning in cooperation with the department of
agriculture, entitled "Increased Food Security and Food Self-Sufficiency
Strategy: A State Strategic/Functional Plan Prepared in Accordance with HRS
Chapter 226 Hawaii State Plan and the Hawaii Comprehensive Economic Development
Strategy", replacing just ten per cent of the food that Hawaii currently
imports would retain approximately $313,000,000 in the State and generate more
than two thousand three hundred jobs.
Investing in farmland and irrigation infrastructure will bring Hawaii
closer to self-sufficiency, and local investments will benefit local residents.
The legislature further finds that the
governor has set the policy goal of doubling Hawaii's food production by
2020. However, details on how to achieve
this objective have yet to be identified.
Issues such as preserving agricultural land, identifying food crops for
local production, and improving irrigation and agricultural infrastructure need
immediate attention so that doubling food production can become a realistic
objective. Implications of the federal
FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, which will have significant effects on local
agriculture, must also be addressed. Due
to the need to address multiple issues in order to double local food production
and with 2020 less than one year away, this Act sets the goal of doubling local
food production by 2030.
The purpose of this Act is to require the
department of agriculture, in cooperation with the office of the governor, to
develop a strategic plan to achieve the governor's goal of doubling food
production and increasing food exports by 2030[.] and to identify the
top ten fruit and vegetable imports to the State that may be commercially grown
by farmers in Hawaii and recommend ways to increase their production.
SECTION 2.
(a) The
department of agriculture, in cooperation with the office of the governor,
shall establish a strategic plan that identifies benchmarks for increased
food production in Hawaii and increased exports of food crops and value-added
agricultural products from Hawaii.
(b)
The strategic plan shall identify benchmarks that are quantitatively and
qualitatively measurable and the metrics to determine progress toward the
following goals:
(1) Doubling local food production and exports by 2030;
(2) Identifying food crops that may be grown locally to replace imports and increase exports of food crops and value-added agricultural products from Hawaii;
(3) Identifying lands for:
(A) Producing food crops that may be grown locally to replace imports;
(B) Raising livestock; and
(C) Developing value-added agricultural products;
(4) Developing guidance for decisions regarding land acquisition, irrigation, and agricultural infrastructure; and
(5) Identifying implications and effects of the federal FDA Food Safety and Modernization Act on local food production and export.
(c)
The department of agriculture shall submit the strategic plan, including
proposed strategies, benchmarks, metrics, and any proposed legislation, to the
legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
session of 2020.
(d) The department of
agriculture, in cooperation with the office of the governor, shall build off the
findings related to subsection (b)(2) and further identify the top ten fruit and
vegetable imports to the State that may be commercially grown by farmers in
Hawaii, along with recommendations to increase the commercial production of those
fruits and vegetables in the State. The department
of agriculture shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including
any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to
the convening of the regular session of 2023."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.
Report Title:
Agricultural Import Replacements; Top Ten Fruits and Vegetables
Description:
Requires the department of agriculture, in cooperation with the office of the governor, to identify the top ten fruit and vegetable imports to the State that may be commercially grown by farmers in Hawaii and recommend ways to increase their production. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
