THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1216

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that it is in Hawaii's best interest to support increased agricultural production while keeping Hawaii's coastal zone and stream waters free from agriculture related runoff.  The state department of agriculture requires new lessees to obtain a government approved soil and water conservation plan before they may receive final approval of their lease.  All farmers are required by law to have a government approved soil and water conservation plan in order to be exempt from having to obtain a grading permit each time they plow or clear a field.  Currently, there is a four-year wait list for government assistance in developing soil and water conservation plans.  The plans are highly technical in nature, and farmers require assistance to complete them.

     The legislature finds that the State can benefit from placing new farmers into state lease lands more quickly and having farmers able to produce more agricultural product.  In addition, farmers and government agencies can benefit from reducing duplication of effort, regulatory red tape, and cross-agency bottlenecks.

     The Idaho OnePlan is an example of a streamlined government data system that assists farmers in developing soil and water conservation plans in a cost-efficient method.  Specifically, the Idaho OnePlan provides data and software to help growers develop a single conservation farm plan that can be pre-endorsed by the various agencies, streamlining and simplifying the regulatory process that farmers face.  Idaho OnePlan is a multi-agency project to combine government regulations and current best management practices for agriculture into a single plan, integrating federal, state, and local regulations for:

     (1)  Nutrient, pest, and waste management;

     (2)  Water quality and wetlands;

     (3)  Air quality;

     (4)  Financial assistance;

     (5)  Endangered species; and

     (6)  Soil erosion.

     From the comfort of home or the office, the farmer can connect to site-specific information tailored to growers.  Aerial photos, soil data, hydrology maps, roads, and borders on different geographic information systems map layers are available.  With this data and the OnePlan software questionnaire, growers can generate a report and plan of action — a conservation farm plan  with effective area-specific best management practices.  The software allows the grower to record management practices over time to see what works as specific activities such as pesticide application, cultivation methods, equipment, and the like, can be tracked.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish an agricultural task force to study the feasibility of implementing a system similar to the Idaho OnePlan in Hawaii to assist in the creation of soil and water conservation plans that are required for county permits or permit exemptions for various agricultural practices.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  There is created an agricultural task force under the department of land and natural resources for administrative purposes.  The agricultural task force shall study the feasibility of implementing a system similar to the Idaho OnePlan, as described in section 1 of this Act, in Hawaii to assist in the creation of soil and water conservation plans that are required for county permits or permit exemptions for various agricultural practices.

     The agricultural task force shall consider issues including but not limited to the following:  conservation planning, grubbing and grading practices, conservation funding programs, wildfire management, nutrient management planning, pest management, pesticide application recordkeeping, animal feeding operations, carbon sequestration, range management, farmstead, organic farming, and water quality best management practices.

     (b)  The agricultural task force shall be composed of the following members or their designees:

     (1)  Chairperson of the board of agriculture;

     (2)  United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Services, Director of Technology or Director of Operations;

     (3)  State office of information management and technology;

     (4)  Land assets manager of the department of Hawaiian home lands;

     (5)  Land assets manager of the department of land and natural resources;

     (6)  Department head of every county planning department;

     (7)  Director of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts;

     (8)  Board president of the Hawaii Association of Conservation Districts;

     (9)  Directors of each soil and water conservation district;

    (10)  President or executive director, as applicable, of each soil and water conservation district;

    (11)  President of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation;

    (12)  Executive director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation;

    (13)  Representative of the Ulupono Initiative;

    (14)  Executive director of the Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council;

    (15)  Land assets manager of the office of Hawaiian affairs;

    (16)  Land assets manager of the Kamehameha Schools/Bishop
Estate;

    (17)  Small farmers from each county who operate twenty acres or less of farm land, to be selected by the department of agriculture; and

    (18)  Large farmers from each county who operate fifty acres or more of farm land, to be selected by the department of agriculture.

     (c)  The task force shall select a chairperson from amongst its members who will preside over all meetings.

     (d)  Members of the agricultural task force shall be exempt from section 26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel, necessary for the performance of their duties.  No member of the agricultural task force shall be made subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of that member's participation on the task force.

     (e)  The agricultural task force shall report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2014.  The task force shall cease to exist on December 31, 2013.

     SECTION 3.  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 2013-2014 for the agricultural task force created under section 2 of this Act to employ one person, who shall be exempt from chapters 87A, 88, and 89, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to perform administrative duties and activities as may be required by the agricultural task force.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources 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, 2013.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Agricultural Task Force; Appropriation

 

Description:

Creates an agricultural task force to study feasibility of implementing a system similar to the Idaho OnePlan.  Requires a report to the legislature.  Makes an appropriation to employ one person to perform administrative duties and activities of the task force.

 

 

 

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