Report Title:
HARC Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds for fiscal year 2001-2002 for agricultural research and development to be performed by the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center. (HB210 CD1)
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
210 |
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TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 2 |
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C.D. 1 |
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 agriculture is one of the State's growth industries and is a vital component of the State's economic base. Agriculture provides an economically viable use of the land while providing the open space valued by residents and visitors alike. Hawaii's agriculture industry has become increasingly diverse with new economic opportunities as prime agriculture land becomes available and quarantine restrictions are overcome. It is encouraging that all sectors of agriculture, including sugar, pineapple, macadamia nut, coffee, papaya, flower, and exotic tropical fruit industries, are working together to accelerate the expansion of the agriculture industry as a whole. To maximize the opportunities for maintaining and expanding the agriculture industry and to take best advantage of the thousands of acres of prime farmland, it is paramount that production-driven research is maintained.
The legislature finds that the commitment of the private sector is critical to the success of any industry and that the Hawaii agriculture research center (HARC) exemplifies such commitment. The legislature also finds that HARC serves as a model of private-public partnerships for agricultural research, and, further, that it effectively partners with public institutions, such as the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service and the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources, in facilitating agricultural technology transfer and in maximizing the use of limited community resources. Most of HARC's funding comes from the private sector, which provides the accountability demanded by its stakeholders and increases the returns on the State's funding, benefiting farm production and the local economy.
HARC has been directing its state-supported research primarily to those industries that provide direct financial support such as coffee, papaya, macadamia nut, sugarcane, and forestry. HARC seeks to help increase commercial production through crop improvement programs focusing on improving cultural practices and producing superior planting material through plant breeding and selection. Agricultural research at HARC will continue to be a key resource in the State's efforts to strengthen and improve the agriculture industry, revitalize the economy, and maintain and create employment opportunities for residents, especially in rural areas.
The purpose of this Act is to provide the necessary funds to promote cost sharing of agricultural research between the public and private sector and to assist in maintaining current minimum levels of agricultural research and development at HARC.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002 for agricultural research and development to be performed by HARC; provided that no funds shall be made available under this Act for research on:
(1) Agricultural commodities with annual statewide crop sales of $20,000,000 or greater, based on the most recent statistics from the department of agriculture, unless the private sector provides a dollar-for-dollar match of funds; and
(2) Other agricultural commodities unless the private sector provides $1 for every $3 appropriated in this Act; provided that up to $250,000 per year may be released unmatched for agricultural research and development in agricultural commodities other than sugarcane.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.