Report Title:

Food Safe Certification; Pilot Program; Farmers; DOA

 

Description:

Establishes a pilot program within the Department of Agriculture to develop safe food certification for farms that form agricultural cooperatives and establish purchasing agreements with hotels and restaurants.  Establishes the Food Certification Pilot Program Special Fund.  (HB1471 HD1)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1471

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO FARMS.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  (a)  There is established in the department of agriculture a food certification pilot program to benefit farmers throughout the state. 

     (b)  The pilot program shall be managed by the department of agriculture; provided that the department of health shall provide the department of agriculture with assistance as necessary in implementing the pilot program.  The pilot program shall:

     (1)  Encourage farmers to form agricultural cooperatives;

     (2)  Coordinate purchasing agreements between the agricultural cooperatives and hotels, restaurants, and other buyers in the visitor and hospitality industries; and

     (3)  Develop and implement "safe" food certification for products under the pilot program to promote fresh, high-quality, locally-grown produce grown by Hawaii farmers.

All farmers operating in the state shall be eligible to apply for the pilot program.

     (c)  There is established in the state treasury the food certification pilot program special fund, into which shall be deposited:

     (1)  Appropriations made by the legislature;

     (2)  Gifts and grants; and

     (3)  Any other moneys available to the food certification pilot program special fund from other sources.

     (d)  The moneys in the food certification pilot program special fund shall be used by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $160,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 to be deposited into the food certification pilot program special fund established in section 1 of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the food certification pilot program special fund the sum of $160,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2010-2011 for the operations of the food certification pilot program established in section 1 of this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2110, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2011; provided that all unexpended and unencumbered moneys remaining in the food certification pilot program special fund on June 30, 2011, shall lapse to the credit of the general fund.