THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	511
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

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 as the demand for unskilled labor increases, farmers and ranchers continue to search for alternative ways to operate their farms through technology, like small equipment tractors from Japan. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, small equipment engines from foreign countries like Japan do not comply with standard regulations.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish a pilot program to identify efficient foreign agriculture small equipment tractors that are retrofittable and thus, could comply with Environmental Protection Agency standard regulations if an appropriate engine were installed.

SECTION 2. The department of agriculture shall establish a pilot program to identify and purchase the outer shell of foreign agriculture small equipment tractors and attempt to retrofit engines to comply with Environmental Protection Agency standards. The department of agriculture shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024.

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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish a pilot program to identify and purchase the outer shell of foreign agriculture small equipment tractors and attempt to retrofit engines to comply with Environmental Protection Agency standards.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Small Agriculture Equipment; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to establish a foreign agriculture small equipment pilot program to identify efficient agriculture equipment and retrofit engines to meet the United States Environmental Protection Agency's standards. Requires a report to the Legislature.

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