REPORT TITLE:
Agricultural
parks/developments


DESCRIPTION:
Directs the agribusiness development corporation to establish
agricultural parks/developments in the most expeditious and cost-
effective manner possible. Appropriates funds for this purpose.
Stipulates that the Hawaii agricultural development revolving
fund administered by the agribusiness development corporation
shall be the depository for all revenues from assessments, tolls,
and appropriations made by the legislature to the fund, and
interest on investments attributable to agricultural
parks/developments. (HB949 HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        949
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that hundreds of acres of
 
 2 former sugarcane land throughout the state, have laid idle since
 
 3 the closure of the last plantations.  Meanwhile, hundreds of
 
 4 displaced sugar workers search for jobs and opportunities to
 
 5 enter into agricultural endeavors.  Others, who are already
 
 6 farming or ranching successfully elsewhere, are interested in
 
 7 leasing lands to expand their operations.
 
 8      The coordinating entity, the agribusiness development
 
 9 corporation, is empowered statutorily to facilitate and promote
 
10 agriculture in the State through the reuse of former plantation
 
11 lands, water delivery systems, roadways, and other necessary
 
12 infrastructure.
 
13      The purpose of this Act is to direct the agribusiness
 
14 development corporation to establish agricultural
 
15 parks/developments in the most expeditious and cost-effective
 
16 manner possible.
 
17      SECTION 2.  The agribusiness development corporation shall
 
18 consider the following actions for this purpose:
 
19      (1)  Seek a long-term lease from the state department of
 
20           land and natural resources and/or other landowners in  
 

 
Page 2                                                     949
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 order to allow qualified tenants to hold long-term subleases
 
 2 under the agribusiness development corporation; and
 
 3      (2)  In cooperation with and assistance from financial
 
 4           institutions, the agribusiness development corporation
 
 5           shall consider the following activities:
 
 6           (a)  Collection/payment of maintenance fees;
 
 7           (b)  Collection/payment of lease rents;
 
 8           (c)  Collection of assessments for common
 
 9                infrastructure improvements;
 
10           (d)  Collection of master lease rent;
 
11           (e)  Collection/payment of property taxes;
 
12           (f)  Collection/payment of insurance fees;
 
13           (g)  Agribusiness development corporation management
 
14                fees; and
 
15           (h)  Assisting tenants in seeking financial assistance
 
16                from private and public lenders and applicable
 
17                federal loan guarantee programs.
 
18      SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
19 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof
 
20 as may be necessary for fiscal year 1999-2000 for the
 
21 establishment of agricultural parks/developments.
 
22      SECTION 4.  The Hawaii agricultural development revolving
 
23 fund, administered by the agribusiness development corporation,
 

 
Page 3                                                     949
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 shall be the depository for all revenues from assessments, tolls,
 
 2 and appropriations made by the legislature to the fund and
 
 3 interest on investments attributable to agricultural
 
 4 parks/developments. Moneys in the Hawaii agricultural development
 
 5 revolving fund shall be expended by the agribusiness development
 
 6 corporation for the acquisition, planning, design, improvement,
 
 7 construction, equipping, furnishing, administering, operating,
 
 8 and maintenance of agricultural parks/developments and any other
 
 9 purpose deemed necessary by the corporation for the purpose of
 
10 acquiring and operating the agricultural parks/developments. The
 
11 agribusiness development corporation may utilize contributions of
 
12 money, labor, materials, and property that may be otherwise
 
13 available from any person or instrumentality.
 
14      No expenditure, use, or transfer of funds from the Hawaii
 
15 agricultural development revolving fund by the agribusiness
 
16 development corporation shall be subject to chapter 42D, 42F,
 
17 103, or 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.
 
18      SECTION 5.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
19 agribusiness development corporation for the purposes of this
 
20 Act.
 
21      SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 1999.