HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

309

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to important agricultural lands.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  Article XI, section 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution establishes the State's duty to "conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self-sufficiency and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands" and provides protections for lands identified as important agricultural lands.  In service of this duty, the legislature enacted Act 183, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, which was codified in part III of chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     Act 183 directed each county to work with government and community stakeholders, within sixty months of receipt of state funds for the purpose, to identify and map potential important agricultural lands within its jurisdiction and make recommendations to the land use commission for the designation of these lands as important agricultural lands.  Once designated, agricultural operations on important agricultural lands are eligible for a variety of state and county assistance and incentive programs including grants and other funding assistance, tax incentives, favorable infrastructure and permit requirements, and farm and business education assistance.  The legislature finds that, to date, most counties have not received state funds to assist with their identification and mapping duties under Act 183.

     The purpose of this Act is to implement Act 183 in accordance with the State's constitutional duty to protect important agricultural lands, by providing funds to the counties for the identification and mapping of important agricultural lands.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 for grants-in-aid to the counties for the identification and mapping of important agricultural lands pursuant to section 205-47, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to be allocated as follows:

     (1)  $62,500 to the county of Hawaii;

     (2)  $62,500 to the city and county of Honolulu;

     (3)  $62,500 to the county of Kauai; and

     (4)  $62,500 to the county of Maui.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

By Request


 


 

Report Title:

Hawaii State Association of Counties Package; Important Agricultural Lands; Appropriations

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the counties to identify and map important agricultural lands.  Appropriations.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.