REPORT TITLE:
$$; Aquaculture


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates funds for the aquaculture disease prevention
program.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                             2799
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                     
STATE OF HAWAII                                                 
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE AQUACULTURE DISEASE PREVENTION
   PROGRAM.


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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that since the early
 
 2 1990s, the annual case load for the aquaculture disease
 
 3 prevention program has more than doubled, increasing from 150 to
 
 4 200 case submissions to 325 to 400 case submissions.  During this
 
 5 increase, state funding for the program has remained static or
 
 6 declined, and in 1998, the microbiologist III position was
 
 7 eliminated, greatly undermining the program's diagnostic
 
 8 abilities.
 
 9      The legislature further finds that these resource cuts have
 
10 had a substantial negative impact on the program at a time when
 
11 the industry has been expanding at an annual rate of ten to
 
12 fifteen per cent.  The remaining staff have attempted to make up
 
13 for funding and staffing shortfalls by bringing in outside case
 
14 submissions on a fee basis, and additional funds through research
 
15 contract moneys, as well as increasing staff overtime.  However,
 
16 in 1999, the outside supplemental moneys from fees were
 
17 transferred to the general fund, leaving the program underfunded.
 
18      The legislature finds, given the importance of aquaculture
 
19 to Hawaii's diversified agricultural industry, that adequate
 

 
Page 2                                                     2799
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 funding and staffing for the aquaculture disease prevention
 
 2 program is critical to the survival and growth of existing
 
 3 aquaculture producers as well as to the State's fishery and stock
 
 4 enhancement programs.
 
 5      The purpose of this Act is to adequately fund the
 
 6 aquaculture disease prevention program.
 
 7      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 8 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so
 
 9 much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001, for
 
10 following components of the aquaculture disease prevention
 
11 program.
 
12      (1)  Annual operating funds.                         $30,000
 
13      (2)  Annual equipment funds.                         $10,000
 
14      (3)  Restoration of the microbiologist III
 
15           (virology technician) position.             $          
 
16                TOTAL                                  $          
 
17      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
18 department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
 
19      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.
 
20 
 
21                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________