HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	489
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding one new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§141-A Aquatic livestock assessment and approval process; permits. (a) The division shall administer an assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock in the State. This process shall:

(1) Be based on the framework maintained by the aquaculture program pursuant to section 141-52; and

(2) Include pre-arrival disease-free verification, point-of-entry inspection, post-arrival inspection, and the quarantine of any aquatic animals, plants, and microorganisms, as necessary.

(b) The division may issue permits for the purposes of subsection (a).

(c) As used in this section, "division" means the animal industry division of the department."

SECTION 2. Section 141-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding three new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

""Aquatic biorisk" means the combination of the probability of occurrence of harm and the severity of that harm where the source of harm is an escaped aquatic livestock species.

"Aquatic livestock" means various species of domestic and non-domestic fish, crustaceans, and mollusks that are propagated and raised for food, restorative activities, or similar commercial purposes.

"Biocontainment" means the safety practices and procedures used to prevent unintended infection of animals from external pathogens or the release of high-consequence species or pathogens into the environment."

SECTION 3. Section 141-52, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) There is established within the department an aquaculture program that shall:

(1) Monitor actions taken by industry and by federal, state, county, and private agencies in activities relating to aquaculture, and promote and support worthwhile aquaculture activities;

(2) Serve as an information clearinghouse for aquaculture activities;

(3) Coordinate development projects to investigate and solve biological and technical problems involved in raising selected species with commercial potential;

(4) Actively seek federal funding for aquaculture activities;

(5) Undertake activities required to develop and expand the aquaculture industry[;], which include:

(A) Maintaining an aquatic biorisk-based framework for an assessment and approval process for aquatic livestock that categorizes aquatic livestock species based on the probability and consequence of the establishment of a feral population; and

(B) Maintaining a biocontainment standards framework that certifies discrete levels of operational functions; and

(6) Perform other functions and activities that may be assigned by law."

SECTION 4. The animal industry division of the department of agriculture shall develop an aquatic biorisk-based framework for the assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock. In developing the framework, the animal industry division shall consider:

(1) Relevant standards established by the United States Department of Agriculture;

(2) Current aquatic livestock policies and development issues;

(3) Best practices of the aquaculture industry; and

(4) The protection of indigenous species as defined in section 195D-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Animal Industry Division; Aquaculture Program; Aquatic Biorisk-based Framework; Biocontainment Standards Framework; Aquatic Livestock

Description:

Requires the animal industry division of the department of agriculture to administer an assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock in the State. Allows the animal industry division to issue permits for such purposes. Requires the animal industry division to develop a risk-based framework for the aquatic livestock assessment and approval process and to undertake certain activities to develop and expand the aquaculture industry. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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