Bill Text: HI SB2636 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Agriculture; Appropriation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-25 - (S) Referred to AGL, WAM. [SB2636 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2012-SB2636-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2636 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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 farms and farmers reflect the heritage and diversity of its many cultures and people, are the cornerstone of the State's goals for food security, sustainability, and self-sufficiency, and are essential for producing more local food for local consumption.
The legislature also finds that the number of small farms in Hawaii has grown substantially in the last ten years reflecting a changing agricultural model from plantations to smaller farms with diverse cropping and marketing systems that create new local food sources and significant increased employment. There is also a renewed interest in school gardens and in children being able to eat and enjoy the food they grow, contribute to their school cafeteria system, and learn economic, science, and cultural lessons through an agriculture-based curriculum.
The legislature further finds that these trends necessitate the development of good agricultural practices that are science-based guidelines to reduce the potential for food product contamination on farms. Good agricultural practices include guidance for farm practices regarding field management, proper hygiene, water quality for irrigation and produce rinsing, agricultural chemicals, and animal manure use.
At the national level, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011, P.L. 111-353, ("Food Safety Act") authorizes the Food and Drug Administration to develop science and risk-based criteria for preventing food borne illnesses and encourages states to establish similar intra-state criteria for the safe production, distribution, and consumer handling of food. The Food Safety Act seeks to assist farmers in learning and implementing good agricultural practices to continue to provide safe and wholesome food and to promote broader access to local markets.
The Hawaii state constitution mandates the preservation and protection of agricultural resources. However, the legislature finds that the department of agriculture's use of third party food safety certification audit systems is costly and impractical for many of Hawaii's farmers and has benefited only a few farmers. This has reduced farmers' access to local markets, thereby reducing local consumers' access to local produce. This may further discourage the development of farms that create greater food sustainability for the State. It also prevents children from having reasonable access to school gardens, decreases their ability to eat the food they grow, and undermines government programs that encourage food self sufficiency and economic development.
The purpose of this Act it to:
(1) Establish, within the department of agriculture, a Hawaii good agricultural practices program for farms growing local agriculture; and
(2) Make an appropriation to the department of agriculture.
SECTION 2. Chapter 147, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part VIII to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§147- Hawaii good agricultural practices program; establishment. (a) There is established within the department, the Hawaii good agricultural practices program. The objectives of the Hawaii good agricultural practices program shall be to:
(1) Develop science and risk-based good agricultural practices that reasonably reduce the potential for on-farm food borne illness risks, while taking into consideration the differences among farm sizes, practices, materials, and crops;
(2) Develop and implement programs to educate and train Hawaii's farmers to implement on-farm good agricultural practices in a cost-effective and efficient manner;
(3) Provide procedures for voluntary verification of the implementation of good agricultural practices and the subsequent issuance of a good agricultural practices certification; and
(4) Develop a consumer information program for publication and broadcast to teach consumers about the proper treatment and handling of fresh and processed agricultural food products.
(b) To meet the objectives of subsection (a), the department shall:
(1) Coordinate with the department of health and the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources;
(2) Ensure that the program interfaces effectively with the federal Food Safety Modernization Act, P.L. 111‑353, with particular emphasis on science and risk-based criteria that minimizes costs to farmers;
(3) Coordinate with farming stakeholders and commodity groups to ensure widespread acceptance of and compliance with the program; and
(4) Ensure access of farms and farmers to local market outlets and of local consumers to local produce in a manner that supports the State's goals for food sustainability and self-sufficiency.
§147- Rules. The department shall have the necessary powers to carry out and effectuate the purposes of this part and may adopt administrative rules pursuant to chapter 91 with respect to the following, without limitation:
(1) The design and development of good agricultural practices for local farms growing certain agricultural food products;
(2) The design and development of education, training, certification, support, record keeping, and other assistance to farmers to implement and maintain good agricultural practices; and
(3) Interfacing with other state and federal agencies and industry stakeholders to meet the requirements of this part."
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 2012-2013 for the Hawaii good agricultural practices program.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2012.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Agriculture; Appropriation
Description:
Creates the Hawaii good agricultural practices program within the department of agriculture. Makes an appropriation.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
