Bill Text: HI HB2568 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 2568 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Agriculture.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-05 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LHE with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) McDermott, Saiki excused (2). [HB2568 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-HB2568-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2568
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

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 the GoFarm Hawaii program is critical to growing, creating, and commercializing local farms that are capable of meeting Hawaii's food sustainability goals. Currently, approximately eighty-five per cent of the State's food is imported. This leaves the State vulnerable to shipping disruptions and natural disasters. The Hawaii emergency management agency estimates that, in the event of port closures, food supplies would be exhausted in five to seven days.

The food import industry also represents billions of dollars each year that are leaving the State's economy. In 2014, local consumers spent approximately $4,100,000,000 on food. Approximately eighty-five per cent, or $3,500,000,000 of this was spent on imports. In contrast, only twelve per cent of farms in the State make more than $50,000 annually, and only seven per cent reach more than $100,000 in annual sales.

The GoFarm Hawaii program was developed by the university of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources to assist local farmers in growing and commercializing their production. In 2019, the program provided business consulting, training, and technical assistance to more than three hundred seventy-five existing and aspiring farmers. GoFarm Hawaii also helped more than sixty farmers apply for loans, leases, and grants and to develop business plans and value-added products.

GoFarm Hawaii has also established beginning training programs to assist new commercial farmers: two programs on the island of Oahu and one each on the islands of Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii. The certificate-based program includes education and mentoring in agricultural production and business. In the last three years, more than one hundred thirty students have graduated from the beginning farmer training program. Of these, almost fifty per cent started new farm businesses and fourteen per cent found employment with existing operations in the agricultural industry. The courses have been highly successful, and the demand for enrollment often exceeds availability. In 2019, seventy-two aspiring farmers applied for twenty-four Oahu-based openings.

The legislature finds that funding for the GoFarm Hawaii program comes exclusively from government and private grants. To manage the program at existing levels, operating costs for fiscal year 2021 are estimated at $1,400,000, with $400,000 of that amount anticipated to be received from private grants.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Appropriate funds for the GoFarm Hawaii program to provide business consulting, technical assistance, and beginner farmer training on at least four islands; and

(2) Require the GoFarm Hawaii program to provide the chairperson of the board of agriculture with reports on the program's annual goals, outputs, and outcomes.

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 2020-2021 for the GoFarm Hawaii program to provide business consulting, technical assistance, and beginning farmer training on at least four islands.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. The GoFarm Hawaii program shall provide the chairperson of the board of agriculture with:

(1) An annual report no later than of the program's goals for the chairperson's review; and

(2) A semi-annual report no later than outlining the program's outputs and outcomes.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2150.

Report Title:

GoFarm Hawaii; Food Sustainability; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the GoFarm Hawaii program. Requires GoFarm Hawaii to provide the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture with an annual report of the program's goals and a semi-annual report outlining program outputs and outcomes. Effective July 1, 2150. (HD1)

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