Bill Text: HI HB2127 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 2127

Bill Title: Relating To Meat Processing.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-15 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Matayoshi, Perruso, Sayama, Takayama excused (5). [HB2127 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB2127-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2127
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MEAT PROCESSING.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a need for increased meat processing capacity in the State, as smaller ranchers and hunters compete for limited capacity, resulting in the loss of potential use of wild game meat.

The legislature further finds that axis deer, an invasive species that poses a continuing threat to Hawaii's environment, could provide significant quantities of meat as a protein source for non-profit food distribution services, such as Feed My Sheep and the Hawaii Foodbank. However, there is a gap between the hunters and these non-profit services because the meat needs to be processed prior to distribution. Other states have developed processes for this purpose, including licensing fees and other funding managed by wildlife agencies or non-profits.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the development and implementation of a plan to expand the meat processing capacity in the State to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be processed for distribution by non-profit food distribution services; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

SECTION 2. The department of agriculture, in collaboration with the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness; department of land and natural resources, division of forestry and wildlife; and department of health, food safety branch, shall develop and implement a plan to expand the meat processing capacity in the State to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be processed for distribution by non-profit food distribution services by July 1, 2025.

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 2024-2025 for the implementation of a plan to expand the meat processing capacity in the State pursuant to this Act.

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

SECTION 4. In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further exceeded by $ or per cent. The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $ or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Meat Processing Capacity; Expansion; Food Distribution Services; Appropriation; Expenditure Ceiling

Description:

Requires the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with other state agencies, to develop and implement a plan to expand the meat processing capacity in the State to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be processed for distribution by non-profit food distribution services by 7/1/2025. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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