Bill Text: HI HB1717 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Agriculture.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-03-23 - The committee on AEN deferred the measure. [HB1717 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-HB1717-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1717 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
H.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. The legislature finds that as the demand for unskilled labor increases, farmers and ranchers are searching for ways to use technology to better operate their farms. These farmers and ranchers could greatly benefit from foreign technology like small equipment tractors from Japan. However, they are unable to import that equipment because it does not comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's emission standards.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the college of tropical agriculture and human resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to work in collaboration with a University of Hawaii community college for a pilot program to identify and purchase foreign agricultural technology and equipment, including small equipment tractors and retrofit engines, that will benefit the State's farmers and ranchers and that complies with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's emission standards.
SECTION 2. 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 2022-2023 to establish the foreign agriculture small equipment pilot program, in collaboration with a University of Hawaii community college, to:
(1) Identify and purchase foreign agricultural technology and equipment, including but not limited to small equipment tractors and retrofit engines, that will benefit the State's farmers and ranchers and comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's emission standards;
(2) Establish contact with manufacturers of small equipment in Japan and other countries;
(3) Work with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to identify Environmental Protection Agency standards and compliance requirements for small foreign agricultural equipment;
(4) Collaborate with agricultural professionals from foreign countries on management practices;
(5) Bring harvesting, weed management, and field preparation machinery into the State for evaluation;
(6) Conduct on-farm trials to evaluate the efficacy and applicability to multiple growing systems, such as wetland conventional, organic, and forage crops, statewide; and
(7) Conduct education and training workshops statewide to update agriculture producers on available technology.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. The dean of the college of tropical agriculture and human resources of the University of Hawaii at Manoa 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 on the progress of the foreign agriculture small equipment pilot program.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
Report Title:
University of Hawaii; Foreign Agriculture Small Equipment; Pilot Program; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to establish a foreign agriculture small equipment pilot program. Requires a report to the legislature. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
