HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1688

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

 

 

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

 

PART I

     SECTION 1. Angiostrongyliasis, also known as rat lungworm disease, is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.  It is caused by a parasitic nematode, a roundworm parasite, called Angiostrongylus cantonensis.  The adult form of A. cantonensis is only found in rodents.  However, infected rodents can pass larvae of the worm in their feces.  Snails, slugs, and certain other animals can become infected by ingesting this larvae; these are considered intermediate hosts.  Humans can become infected with A. cantonensis if they eat raw or undercooked food contaminated by an intermediate host, thereby ingesting the parasite.  Diagnosing angiostrongyliasis can be difficult, as there are no readily available blood tests.  There is no specific treatment for the disease.

     In 2017, there were almost twenty laboratory-confirmed cases of rat lungworm disease in Hawaii.  According to the department of health, the risk of rat lungworm disease is present on all islands of the State.

     The legislature finds that Hawaii is currently having an outbreak of rat lungworm disease in humans, dogs, cats, and horses.  In Australia , dogs and cats were found to have contracted rat lungworm in the natural environment.  Australia now uses animals as sentinels to detect rat lungworm outbreaks.

     The legislature finds that as global warming increases, there will be an increase in the number and types of viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi that can spread between animals and humans, making early detection and research imperative to protect public health.  Developing a valid medical model will be essential to determining the best means of diagnosis, possible treatment options, and timing of treatment of rat lungworm disease.

     The legislature further finds that studies have long indicated that rat lungworm is found in freshwater organisms and notes that in a 1950's disease outbreak there were more than one thousand documented cases of people contracting rat lungworm from consuming freshwater prawns in French Polynesia.

     The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to the department of agriculture, in collaboration with the department of health and the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources, for surveying, testing, and treating rat lungworm disease in dogs, cats, horses, and freshwater fish and invertebrates.

     SECTION 2.  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 2018-2019 for surveying, testing, and treating rat lungworm disease by the department of agriculture, in collaboration with the department of health and the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources in dogs, cats, horses, and freshwater fish and invertebrates.

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

PART II

     SECTION 3.  Hawaii is one of the most geographically isolated locations in the world.  Almost all food items consumed in-state must be shipped to Hawaii to support the needs of the State's population.  The Hawaii State Planning Act recognizes aquacultural production as both a driver of a diversified agricultural economy and as a source for food sustainability statewide.  Aquaponics is the combination of aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (the soil-less growing of plants) that grows fish and plants together in one integrated system.  The fish waste provides an organic food source for the plants and the plants naturally filter the water for the fish.  The legislature finds that increasing the use of aquaponics to produce food from fish and plants will benefit the State's economy and food security.

     The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to the department of agriculture for researching, developing, and supporting aquaponics in the State.

     SECTION 4.  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 2018-2019 for the department of agriculture for research, development, and support of aquaponics in the State.

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

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

 

Report Title:

Agriculture; Rat Lungworm Disease; Aquaponics; Appropriations

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for surveying, testing, and treating rat lungworm disease in animals and for researching, developing, and supporting aquaponics.  (HB1688 HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.