Report Title:

Agriculture industry development; task force.

Description:

Establishes a task force on agriculture industry development.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2873

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

 

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

SECTION 1. (a) There is established within the department of agriculture for administrative purposes a temporary task force on agricultural industry development. The purpose of the task force is to identify ways to:

(1) Improve the viability of agriculture in Hawaii and expand agricultural opportunities; and

(2) Increase the role of agriculture in the diversification of Hawaii's economy.

(b) The task force shall consist of members who shall be appointed by the governor. The task force shall consist of representatives from the following:

(1) The agribusiness development corporation;

(2) The office of planning;

(3) The department of agriculture;

(4) The department of Hawaiian home lands;

(5) The department of land and natural resources;

(6) The department of transportation;

(7) The college of tropical agriculture and human resources of the University of Hawaii;

(8) County planning agencies;

(9) Other state and county agencies;

(10) The United States Natural Resources Conservation Service;

(11) Small and large farmers;

(12) Agricultural workers;

(13) Business interests;

(14) Landowners;

(15) The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation;

(16) Other agricultural interests;

(17) Air carriers, including interisland airlines;

(18) The shipping industry;

(19) Environmental organizations; and

(20) Native Hawaiian organizations.

(c) The chairperson of the board of directors of the agribusiness development corporation shall serve as chairperson of the task force.

(d) The members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

SECTION 2. The task force shall:

(1) Identify barriers to farmers, including financing, water, transportation, distribution channels, marketing, and tax policies;

(2) Examine tools and techniques to enhance agricultural business development and reduce barriers; and

(3) Develop recommendations for legislative proposals and program initiatives to address barriers and establish incentives.

SECTION 3. The task force shall identify more effective tools and incentives for the long-term protection of agricultural lands to ensure the availability of agricultural lands for future agricultural pursuits by:

(1) Examining tools, techniques, and incentive-based approaches being used or developed elsewhere to preserve agricultural land, including regulatory or land use development tools such as:

(a) Conservation subdivisions;

(b) Transfer of development rights;

(c) Purchase of development rights; and

(d) Purchase of agricultural easements;

(2) Examining a range of financing mechanisms being used to implement agricultural land protection strategies; and

(3) Developing recommendations for legislative proposals and program initiatives for agricultural land protection strategies and the establishment of financing mechanisms for agricultural land protection.

SECTION 4. The task force shall identify improved policies and standards for agricultural district lands to prevent encroachment of non-agricultural uses on agricultural lands and to move toward a more exclusive agricultural land use district by:

(1) Examining a range of agricultural standards related to uses, density, improvements, and infrastructure, and other land use regulatory tools being used to protect agricultural lands;

(2) Examining how these standards and tools might work in Hawaii and how they might be modified or adopted to local conditions; and

(3) Developing recommendations for legislative proposals to amend agricultural district standards in chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 5. The task force shall ensure that opportunities for public participation and comment are provided in each county during its deliberations.

SECTION 6. The task force shall submit:

(1) A preliminary report of its findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2003; and

(2) A final report of its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the governor and legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2004.

SECTION 7. 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 2002-2003 to carry out the purposes of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the agribusiness development corporation for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that:

(1) Section 7 shall take effect on July 1, 2002; and

(2) This Act shall be repealed on June 30, 2004.

INTRODUCED BY:

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