REPORT TITLE:
Agricultural Parks


DESCRIPTION:
Allows DOA to process, market, and display agricultural crops and
commodities, in its agricultural parks including any product
created through value-added processes.  Defines value-added
process.  Allows BOA to adopt rules.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.945        
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PARKS.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the lands of Hawaii's
 
 2 agricultural parks should be utilized to their fullest and
 
 3 highest potential.  Unfortunately, many lessees lack the
 
 4 resources or methods to display and market their crops and
 
 5 commodities in a setting that is conducive for public access by
 
 6 both residents and visitors.  Further, the agricultural park
 
 7 program's statutory limitation prevents lessees from operating a
 
 8 commercial venture within the agricultural park complex.  The
 
 9 legislature finds that the department of agriculture should take
 
10 a more active role in assisting and promoting agriculture-related
 
11 commercial activity within an agricultural park complex.
 
12      The purpose of this Act is to authorize the department of
 
13 agriculture to allow agriculture-related commercial operations to
 
14 be conducted by lessees in agricultural park complexes.  These
 
15 commercial activities may include processing, marketing,
 
16 displaying, and agricultural activities related to attracting,
 
17 assembling, or collecting agricultural products for sale at a
 
18 common site within the agricultural park complex.  A qualifying
 
19 project shall be for public use and shall promote the public
 

 
Page 2                                                     
                                     H.B. NO.945        
                                                        
                                                        


 1 interest and welfare by supporting the economy of the State.
 
 2      SECTION 2.  Chapter 166, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended
 
 3 by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
 
 4 read as follows:
 
 5      "§166-    Commercial activity.  (a)  The department of
 
 6 agriculture shall allow, in each of its existing and future
 
 7 agricultural parks, the processing, marketing, and displaying of
 
 8 agricultural crops, or commodities, which shall include any
 
 9 product created through value added processes.  This shall allow
 
10 agricultural commercial venture operations that may sell to the
 
11 general public; provided that the operation shall be owned by an
 
12 agricultural park lessee in good standing with the department.
 
13      For the purposes of this section, a "value-added process" is
 
14 a process by which the commercial value of raw agricultural
 
15 products or goods is increased.
 
16      (b)  The board of agriculture may perform any and all acts
 
17 and adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary to carry out
 
18 this section."
 
19      SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
20      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
21 
 
22                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________