Bill Text: HI SB964 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To The Establishment Of A Hemp Task Force.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [SB964 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB964-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
964 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the establishment of a Hemp Task Force.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
The legislature also finds that, although hemp is a high-value crop that has the potential to bring significant and diverse revenues to Hawaii, the industry has been significantly stymied in Hawaii due to several factors, including limitations to Hawaii farmer's access to markets and overregulation of farming, production and processing, which has often driven Hawaii hemp farmers out of business, made farmers non-competitive, and has also created challenges for hemp building and housing and biofuel projects. Moreover, Hawaii is the only state in the union where hemp production and farming is heavily regulated at both the state and federal levels.
The legislature further finds that the department of agriculture and department of health have worked to be responsive to changing federal and state hemp regulations and that a forum that provides an opportunity for regular interface with a cross-section of the Hawaii hemp industry and experts can help identify data that will make department of agriculture and department of health administrative rule implementation easier, potentially saving agency time and resources.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a hemp industry task force to include members of the Hawaii hemp industry and representatives from the department of agriculture and the department of health to compile information from farmers and industry experts inside and outside Hawaii as to how to best build a hemp industry that supports rural agricultural development in the State.
SECTION 2. (a) The department of agriculture and the department of health shall jointly convene a Hawaii hemp task force to gather data and information to understand industry needs and inform strategies and actions that support agriculture and an emerging hemp industry in Hawaii. The task force:
(1) Shall include hemp producers and farmers from each island proportionate to the total number of United States Department of Agriculture hemp licenses in the State and a representative from each of the fuel, building, general fiber, cannabinoid, and grain food sectors;
(2) May ask for data and information from additional sources, including but not limited to hemp economists, regulators in other states, retailers, farmers, and hemp industry groups outside of Hawaii; and
(3) Shall develop an outline of farmer and industry needs and the strategies and actions that can help inform public policy concerning the development of a hemp industry in Hawaii that also supports rural agricultural development in the State.
(b) The initial meeting of the task force shall occur no later than sixty days after the effective date of this Act, during which the members shall elect a chair and any other necessary officers from among the appointed members.
(c) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their duties and shall not be subject to section 84-17, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely based on their participation on the task force. The task force shall be exempt from chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
(d) The task force 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 2024.
(e) The task force shall cease to exist on August 30, 2024.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Hemp Industry Task Force; Hemp Producers; Commercial Hemp Production; Rural Economic Development
Description:
Establishes a Hawaii Hemp Task Force to inform public policy and identify methods and actions to best support Hawaii agriculture and build a hemp industry to support rural economic development.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
