HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

491

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013

H.D. 1

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 Hawaii's economy and people are severely dependent on imported resources, including petroleum, food products, animal feed, fertilizers, and other essential goods.  Specifically, the legislature recognizes that imported petroleum accounts for ninety per cent of Hawaii's current energy requirements and that imported food accounts for nearly eighty-five per cent of the food consumed in the State.  This overreliance on imported products, exacerbated by dwindling local fresh water supplies and waste management facilities nearing capacity, have led to a situation where the future sustainability of Hawaii is called into question.

     The legislature finds that the Aina Institute for Bioconversion Technology's mission is to meet local needs for food, water and energy, while maintaining or improving the quality of Hawaii's natural environment.  The Aina Institute for Bioconversion Technology, operating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, seeks to develop and implement proper economic infrastructure and framework to reduce Hawaii's dependence on imported products, including the maximization of the reuse of wastewater and other waste materials, the establishment of environmentally appropriate farming methods, and the identifying of Hawaii-appropriate energy technologies.  In accomplishing this mission, the work of the Aina Institute for Bioconversion Technology, will also provide an economic boon, opening new job markets and increasing the presence of agribusiness in Hawaii.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds as a grant-in-aid from the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to support the operations of the Aina Institute for Bioconversion Technology for the reduction of Hawaii's dependence on imported products, maximization of already available local resources, and development of sustainable technologies and infrastructure for the betterment of Hawaii.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the tax revenues generated by the environmental response, energy, and food security tax pursuant to section 243-3.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the sum of $750,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2013-2014 for a grant-in-aid pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the Aina Institute for Bioconversion Technology to develop a decision-making tool to identify optimum crops and technologies for the production of energy.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of budget and finance for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  The Aina Institute for Bioconversion Technology shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2014 regular session.  This report shall include a summary of the Aina Institute for Bioconversion Technology's activities, a progress report on the Aina Institute for Bioconversion Technology's objectives, and a detailed list of the use of appropriated funds.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2013.



 

Report Title:

Barrel Tax; Appropriation; Aina Institute for Bioconversion Technology; Food and Energy Security; Grant-in-Aid

 

Description:

Appropriates $750,000 in funds from the environmental response, energy, and food security tax for the operations of the Aina Institute for Bioconversion Technology.  Effective July 1, 2013.  (HB491 HD1)

 

 

 

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