Bill Text: HI SB937 | 2014 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: Hawaii Food Resiliency Initiative; Hawaii Food Resiliency Task Force; Department of Agriculture; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 24-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-12-18 - Carried over to 2014 Regular Session. [SB937 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SB937-Amended.html

---

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	937
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HAWAII FOOD RESILIENCY.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

PART I

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii is dangerously dependent on imported food.  As the most geographically isolated state in the country, Hawaii imports approximately ninety-two per cent of its food, according to the Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments Program. Currently, Hawaii has an inventory of fresh produce that would supply consumers for no more than ten days.  Ninety per cent of the beef, sixty-seven per cent of the fresh vegetables, sixty-five per cent of the fresh fruits, and eighty per cent of all milk purchased in the State are imported.  The legislature further finds that Hawaii's reliance on out-of-state sources of food places residents directly at risk of food shortages in the event of natural disasters, economic disruption, and other external factors beyond the State's control.

     The legislature further finds that each food product imported to Hawaii is a lost opportunity for local economic growth.  The legislature notes that according to the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources, an increase in the production and sale of Hawaii-grown food would contribute to significant job creation.  The research shows that replacing ten per cent of current food imports with locally grown food will create a total of two thousand three hundred jobs.  The legislature thus finds that increasing the amount of locally grown food by as little as ten per cent could keep hundreds of millions of dollars circulating within Hawaii's economy, stimulate growth, and create thousands of new jobs.  Such diversification would help make Hawaii's economy more resilient to worldwide events.

     The legislature further finds that increasing local production will ensure that Hawaii has food sources that will be more stable when faced with global supply disruptions, will be better able to cope with increasing global demand and shortages of commodities, and will be better prepared to deal with potential global food scarcities.

     The legislature notes that the nutrients in fresh fruits and vegetables degrade rapidly and increased availability of local food typically ensures access to fresher, later-picked produce with greater vitamin content and higher nutritional value.  A more robust local agricultural sector will lead to more consistency and a likely increase in nutritional choices for local residents.  The legislature believes communities will thrive by having a steady, affordable stream of local products that act as staple foods to residents and by having their food dollars reinvested in the local economy.

     In summary, the legislature finds that establishing an increase in the production of local food as a key state priority will lead to the diversification of Hawaii's economy, create new jobs, advance Hawaii's long-term economic stability, and boost the food security of the people of Hawaii.  This Act sets out a specific roadmap to implement the recommendations made by the Hawaii economic development task force created pursuant to Act 73, Session Laws of Hawaii 2010; the Hawaii clean energy initiative; the office of planning's strategy on increased food security and food self-sufficiency published in October of 2012; and the Hawaii 2050 sustainability plan.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Establish a formal statewide food resiliency initiative that is recognized and supported by the legislature and will achieve measurable goals of food self-sufficiency in a reasonable timeframe;

     (2)  Establish a task force to set forth the specific benchmarks for the food resiliency initiative to achieve and a timeline in which to achieve those benchmarks; and

     (3)  Provide adequate resources to support the food resiliency initiative.

PART II

     SECTION 2.  The purpose of this part is to create a food resiliency initiative under the department of agriculture.

     SECTION 3.  Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"PART   .  FOOD RESILIENCY

     §141-    Definitions.  As used in this part:

     "Department" means the department of agriculture.

     "Food resiliency" refers to the concept of developing a more sustainable and self-sufficient food supply system in Hawaii.  Food resiliency encourages production and consumption of locally grown and bred food to decrease the reliance on imported food, thereby improving the State's economy, health, energy consumption, and general well-being.

     §141-    Hawaii food resiliency initiative.  (a)  There is established within the department a Hawaii food resiliency initiative to increase the State's food security and food self-sufficiency.  The food resiliency initiative shall design, implement, and administer activities to:

     (1)  Increase agricultural sustainability and improve the economic viability of the State's agricultural industry, including development of data to measure progress;

     (2)  Develop and implement programs to assist farm, nursery, and livestock production;

     (3)  Coordinate, fund, and establish agricultural-industry development programs;

     (4)  Develop a cross-agency electronic agricultural data system with soil, water, climate, economic, and other relevant data that can be used to make informed agriculture-related decisions and is supported and maintained with sustainable funds;

     (5)  Establish Hawaii as a global leader in agriculture and agricultural technologies and a model of food self- sufficiency;

     (6)  Develop and implement concepts and programs to expand the market share of local-grown agriculture;

     (7)  Market and promote buying locally grown foods and other local agricultural products;

     (8)  Support and assist in increasing the procurement of local commodities by government agencies;

     (9)  Develop and implement research and technology transfer programs for varietals, treatment, pest control, diagnostics, and farm inputs;

    (10)  Support and coordinate with other appropriate programs within the department, such as infrastructure development, biosecurity, and food safety;

    (11)  Ensure the product integrity of agricultural commodities branded as "made in Hawaii" to protect Hawaii's identity as a producer;

    (12)  Review, coordinate, update, oversee, and comment on government policies that affect the State's agriculture and food security;

    (13)  Develop a plan, to be implemented from 2015 to 2030, to transition the State to a food-resilient economy; and

    (14)  Develop a plan, to be implemented from 2015 to 2030, to assist each county in transitioning to a food-resilient economy.

     (b)  Prior to the initiation of any activities authorized under subsection (a), the Hawaii food resiliency task force, pursuant to part III of Act     , Session Laws of Hawaii 2013, shall develop a plan of action with the intent of promoting effective prioritization and focusing of efforts consistent with the Hawaii food resiliency initiative.

     (c)  The department may submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session beginning with the regular session of 2016 on the status and progress of the Hawaii food resiliency initiative that shall include progress toward the initiative's benchmarks and goals.  The report shall also include:

     (1)  The spending plan of the Hawaii food resiliency initiative;

     (2)  All expenditures of the agricultural development and food security special fund moneys; and

     (3)  The targeted markets of the expenditures, including reasons for selecting those markets, the persons to be served, specific objectives of the program, and program expenditures, including measurable outcomes."

PART III

HAWAII FOOD RESILIENCY TASK FORCE

     SECTION 4.  (a)  There is established the Hawaii food resiliency task force within the department of agriculture for administrative purposes.  The purpose of the Hawaii food resiliency task force shall be to facilitate the accelerated adoption and completion of measurable benchmarks based upon quantifiable metrics regarding agricultural infrastructure, development, food resiliency outreach and education, and other measures to meet the purposes of this Act.  The Hawaii food resiliency task force shall apply an interdisciplinary approach to ensure that the Hawaii food resiliency initiative integrates and considers already existing programs, research, and achievements in ensuring a feasible, coordinated, and aggressive effort in improving food resiliency.  The task force shall consider economic, social, environmental, and cultural goals in developing measurable benchmarks for the initiative.

     (b)  The Hawaii food resiliency task force shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The chairperson of the board of agriculture or the chairperson's designee, who shall chair the Hawaii food resiliency task force;

     (2)  The director of the office of planning or the director's designee;

     (3)  The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or the chairperson's designee;

     (4)  The dean of the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources or the dean's designee;

     (5)  A member to be designated by the speaker of the house of representatives;

     (6)  A member to be designated by the president of the senate; and

     (7)  A representative from each county's private economic development board to be designated by the respective county.

     (c)  The Hawaii food resiliency task force's members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (d)  In the performance of its duties, the Hawaii food resiliency task force shall consult with appropriate private, nonprofit, community, and government stakeholders.

     (e)  The department of agriculture may contract for any services to support the work of the Hawaii food resiliency task force.

     (f)  The Hawaii food resiliency task force shall submit a plan setting forth the specific, measurable benchmarks for the Hawaii food resiliency initiative to achieve, and a timeline in which to achieve those benchmarks, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2015.  The plan shall include a report of the methodology the task force used to develop the specific benchmarks and goals within the plan and recommendations on how to facilitate the plan.

     The task force shall also submit a follow-up report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016.

     (g)  The Hawaii food resiliency task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2016.

PART IV

     SECTION 5.  The purpose of this part is to provide adequate resources and funding to support the Hawaii food resiliency initiative, including agricultural infrastructure and development to improve food self-sufficiency in Hawaii.

     SECTION 6.  Section 141-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Subject to legislative appropriation, moneys in the special fund may be expended for the following purposes:

     (1)  The awarding of grants to farmers for agricultural production or processing activity;

     (2)  The acquisition of real property for agricultural production or processing activity;

     (3)  The improvement of real property, dams, reservoirs, irrigation systems, and transportation networks necessary to promote agricultural production or processing activity, including investigative studies to identify and assess necessary improvements to dams, reservoirs, irrigation systems, and transportation networks;

     (4)  The purchase of equipment necessary for agricultural production or processing activity;

     (5)  The conduct of research on and testing of agricultural products and markets;

     (6)  The funding of positions, including agricultural inspector positions, within the department of agriculture;

     (7)  The promotion and marketing of agricultural products grown or raised in the State;

     (8)  [Water quality] Water-quality testing and improvement; and

     (9)  Any other activity intended to increase agricultural production or processing that may lead to reduced importation of food, fodder, or feed from outside the State."

     SECTION 7.  Act 73, Session Laws of Hawaii 2010, is amended by amending section 14 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 14.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010; provided that sections 2, 3, and 4[, and 7] of this Act shall be repealed on June 30, 2015, and sections 128D-2, 201-12.8, and 243-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which they read on June 30, 2010."

     SECTION 8.  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 2013-2014 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the Hawaii food resiliency task force to administer the Hawaii food resiliency initiative, pursuant to this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

PART V

     SECTION 9.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 10.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii Food Resiliency Initiative; Hawaii Food Resiliency Task Force; Department of Agriculture; Appropriation

 

Description:

Develops the Hawaii Food Resiliency Initiative.  Establishes the Hawaii Food Resiliency Task Force.  Appropriates funds.  Effective July 1, 2050.  (SB937 HD1)

 

 

 

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