Bill Text: HI SB413 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Hawaii Organic Food Center; Appropriation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [SB413 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SB413-Introduced.html

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Report Title:

Hawaii Organic Food Center; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes an organic agriculture task force under the direction of DBEDT to develop a business plan for a Hawaii organic food center; makes an appropriation to the task force to carry out its purposes.

 

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	413
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to agriculture.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  Organic farming practices are beneficial to human health and towards the preservation of environmental quality because these practices emphasize sustainability, enhance soil health, and promote the practice of growing agricultural products without the use of toxic substances, such as pesticides and fertilizers.  While organic farming is an important building block for maintaining and preserving the State's scenic and environmental resources, it is also an essential element in creating economic viability and preserving the quality of life in rural and agricultural communities.

     According to a national study, approximately two per cent of the United States food supply is grown using organic methods and the nationwide retail sales of organic food and beverages in 2005 totaled approximately $12,800,000,000.  There are over ninety organic farms in Hawaii, which produce organic products such as coffee, macadamia nuts, bananas, pineapples, ginger, mangoes, citrus fruits, avocados, tomatoes, and salad greens.  The Hawaii Organic Farmers Association, an accredited third party certification agency for the United States Department of Agriculture's national organic program, estimates that organic farming is a $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 per year industry in Hawaii.

     There is currently a high and increasing demand for organic produce that exceeds the State's locally produced organic food supply, and to meet this demand, local produce markets and large mainland chain stores must import organic produce from the mainland and other countries.  The importation of organic produce can result in a higher number of invasive species that are inadvertently brought into the State upon arrival, and can adversely impact the State's agriculture sector, economy, and sustainable food supply.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish an organic agriculture task force under the administration of the department of business, economic development, and tourism to develop a business plan for the Hawaii organic food center, and to appropriate funds for the task force to carry out its purposes.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is established within the department of business, economic development, and tourism an organic agriculture task force to develop a business plan for the Hawaii organic food center.

     (b)  The organic agriculture task force shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The director of business, economic development, and tourism or the director's designee;

     (2)  The chairperson of the board of agriculture or the chairperson's designee;

     (3)  Two members from the senate appointed by the senate president;

     (4)  Two members from the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

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

     (6)  The executive director of the agribusiness development corporation or the executive director's designee;

     (7)  The president of the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association or the president's designee;

     (8)  The president of the Hawaii Cooperative of Organic Farmers or the president's designee;

     (9)  The director of the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center or the director's designee; and

    (10)  The executive director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.

     (c)  The organic agriculture task force shall develop a business plan for the Hawaii organic food center, which shall include evidence of its conceptual viability.  The Hawaii organic food center shall:

     (1)  Provide infrastructure support for the organic farming industry;

     (2)  Establish a multi-function, cooperative center on Oahu with a value-added product line and distribution center;

     (3)  Establish operational organic farm land for fruit and vegetable seed production; and

     (4)  Conduct farm tours and host farmers markets.

     (d)  The members of the organic agriculture task force shall select the chairperson of the task force from among themselves and shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (e)  The organic agriculture task force shall submit its business plan to the legislature, including any necessary proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2010 regular session.

     (f)  The department of business, economic development, and tourism shall provide support services necessary to assist the task force in achieving its purposes as required under this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 for the organic agriculture task force to carry out the purposes of this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 shall take effect on July 1, 2009.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________