Bill Text: HI HB721 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Agriculture; Task Force

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB721 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB721-Introduced.html

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Report Title:

University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Agriculture; Task Force

 

Description:

Creates a task force in the UH, CTAHR, to assess the overall structure of agricultural industry in the State.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	721
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to agriculture.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  (a) There is established in the University of Hawaii at Manoa, college of tropical agriculture and human resources, a task force to assess the overall structure, including vertical integration from farm to market, of the agricultural industry in the State, encompassing all types of agricultural operations, agricultural products, and distribution systems.

     (b)  The task force shall be comprised of the following:

     (1)  The president of the senate or the president's designated representative;

     (2)  The speaker of the house of representatives or the speaker's designated representative;

     (3)  The chairperson of the senate standing committee on water, land, agriculture, and Hawaiian affairs or the chairperson's designated representative;

     (4)  The chairperson of the house of representatives standing committee on agriculture or the chairperson's designated representative;

     (5)  The chairperson of the board of agriculture or the chairperson's designated representative;

     (6)  The executive director of the agribusiness development corporation or the executive director's designated representative;

     (7)  The dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, college of tropical agriculture and human resources, or the dean's designated representative;

     (8)  A representative of the United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency shall be requested to participate;

     (9)  A representative of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation;

    (10)  An agricultural economist;

    (11)  A representative of an agricultural marketing cooperative;

    (12)  A fresh produce farmer;

    (13)  A representative of the seed corn industry;

    (14)  A horticulturalist;

    (15)  A cattle rancher; and

    (16)  A representative of the financial industry, active in agricultural loans,

provided that the members of the task force listed in paragraphs (9) through (15) shall be selected by the dean of the college of tropical agriculture and human resources.  The dean of the college of tropical agriculture and human resources or the dean's designated representative shall be the chairperson of the task force.

     The University of Hawaii shall provide all administrative, professional, technical, and clerical support required by the task force.

     (c)  The primary task of the task force shall be to assess how agricultural entities and agribusinesses in the State are organized and how they relate to each other, including an investigation into all stages of development, production, processing, marketing, and distribution.  Specifically, the task force shall assess the following:

     (1)  The current availability and condition of the industry-wide processing structure, including processing plants, vacuum cooling plants, slaughter houses, and packaging plants, on each major island;

     (2)  The current adequacy and affordability of distribution networks, including ocean and air transportation modes, for moving agricultural products from farms to markets, both within the State and for export without the State;

     (3)  The availability of financial capital support to help the State's agricultural industry compete in national and international agricultural markets;

     (4)  The ability of farmers and livestock producers to form bargaining and marketing cooperative in the State;

     (5)  The availability of accurate and current data and trade statistics, including current market prices and trends, for various products and commodities produced and consumed in the State and exported out of the State; and

     (6)  Any other areas or matters that require consideration and assessment by the task force to benefit the agricultural industry in the State.

     SECTION 2.  The task force shall provide an interim report of its findings, along with any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2010 and a final report of its findings and conclusions, along with any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty day prior to the convening of the regular session of 2011.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that it shall be repealed on June 30, 2011.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________