HB305

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the agricultural economy has shifted significantly since the establishment of the Hawaii State Planning Act. Sugarcane and pineapple are no longer dominant industries, even though they had represented the majority of agricultural output for the State. By updating certain legacy statutes, the legislature recognizes the value of diversified agriculture across the State and its support to grow that industry.

The purpose of this Act is to update the Hawaii State Planning Act objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for the agricultural economy.

SECTION 2. Section 226-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Planning for the State's economy with regard to agriculture shall be directed towards achievement of the following objectives:

[~~(1)~~ ~~Viability of Hawaii's sugar and pineapple industries.~~

~~(2)~~] (1) Growth and development of diversified agriculture throughout the State.

[~~(3)~~] (2) An agriculture industry that continues to constitute a dynamic and essential component of Hawaii's strategic, economic, and social well-being."

SECTION 3. Section 226-103, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§226-103 Economic priority guidelines. (a) Priority guidelines to stimulate economic growth and encourage business expansion and development to provide needed jobs for Hawaii's people and achieve a stable and diversified economy:

(1) Seek a variety of means to increase the availability of investment capital for new and expanding enterprises.

(A) Encourage investments which:

(i) Reflect long-term commitments to the State;

(ii) Rely on economic linkages within the local economy;

(iii) Diversify the economy;

(iv) Reinvest in the local economy;

(v) Are sensitive to community needs and priorities; and

(vi) Demonstrate a commitment to provide management opportunities to Hawaii residents; and

(B) Encourage investments in innovative activities that have a nexus to the State, such as:

(i) Present or former residents acting as entrepreneurs or principals;

(ii) Academic support from an institution of higher education in Hawaii;

(iii) Investment interest from Hawaii residents;

(iv) Resources unique to Hawaii that are required for innovative activity; and

(v) Complementary or supportive industries or government programs or projects.

(2) Encourage the expansion of technological research to assist industry development and support the development and commercialization of technological advancements.

(3) Improve the quality, accessibility, and range of services provided by government to business, including data and reference services and assistance in complying with governmental regulations.

(4) Seek to ensure that state business tax and labor laws and administrative policies are equitable, rational, and predictable.

(5) Streamline the processes for building and development permit and review and telecommunication infrastructure installation approval and eliminate or consolidate other burdensome or duplicative governmental requirements imposed on business, where scientific evidence indicates that public health, safety, and welfare would not be adversely affected.

(6) Encourage the formation of cooperatives and other favorable marketing or distribution arrangements at the regional or local level to assist Hawaii's small-scale producers, manufacturers, and distributors.

(7) Continue to seek legislation to protect Hawaii from transportation interruptions between Hawaii and the continental United States.

(8) Provide public incentives and encourage private initiative to develop and attract industries which promise long-term growth potentials and which have the following characteristics:

(A) An industry that can take advantage of Hawaii's unique location and available physical and human resources.

(B) A clean industry that would have minimal adverse effects on Hawaii's environment.

(C) An industry that is willing to hire and train Hawaii's people to meet the industry's labor needs at all levels of employment.

(D) An industry that would provide reasonable income and steady employment.

(9) Support and encourage, through educational and technical assistance programs and other means, expanded opportunities for employee ownership and participation in Hawaii business.

(10) Enhance the quality of Hawaii's labor force and develop and maintain career opportunities for Hawaii's people through the following actions:

(A) Expand vocational training in diversified agriculture, aquaculture, information industry, and other areas where growth is desired and feasible.

(B) Encourage more effective career counseling and guidance in high schools and post-secondary institutions to inform students of present and future career opportunities.

(C) Allocate educational resources to career areas where high employment is expected and where growth of new industries is desired.

(D) Promote career opportunities in all industries for Hawaii's people by encouraging firms doing business in the State to hire residents.

(E) Promote greater public and private sector cooperation in determining industrial training needs and in developing relevant curricula and [~~on- the-job~~] on-the-job training opportunities.

(F) Provide retraining programs and other support services to assist entry of displaced workers into alternative employment.

(b) Priority guidelines to promote the economic health and quality of the visitor industry:

(1) Promote visitor satisfaction by fostering an environment which enhances the aloha spirit and minimizes inconveniences to Hawaii's residents and visitors.

(2) Encourage the development and maintenance of well-designed, adequately serviced hotels and resort destination areas which are sensitive to neighboring communities and activities and which provide for adequate shoreline setbacks and beach access.

(3) Support appropriate capital improvements to enhance the quality of existing resort destination areas and provide incentives to encourage investment in upgrading, repair, and maintenance of visitor facilities.

(4) Encourage visitor industry practices and activities which respect, preserve, and enhance Hawaii's significant natural, scenic, historic, and cultural resources.

(5) Develop and maintain career opportunities in the visitor industry for Hawaii's people, with emphasis on managerial positions.

(6) Support and coordinate tourism promotion abroad to enhance Hawaii's share of existing and potential visitor markets.

(7) Maintain and encourage a more favorable resort investment climate consistent with the objectives of this chapter.

(8) Support law enforcement activities that provide a safer environment for both visitors and residents alike.

(9) Coordinate visitor industry activities and promotions to business visitors through the state network of advanced data communication techniques.

[~~(c) Priority guidelines to promote the continued viability of the sugar and pineapple industries:~~

~~(1)~~ ~~Provide adequate agricultural lands to support the economic viability of the sugar and pineapple industries.~~

~~(2)~~ ~~Continue efforts to maintain federal support to provide stable sugar prices high enough to allow profitable operations in Hawaii.~~

~~(3)~~ ~~Support research and development, as appropriate, to improve the quality and production of sugar and pineapple crops.~~

~~(d)~~] (c) Priority guidelines to promote the growth and development of diversified agriculture and aquaculture:

(1) Identify, conserve, and protect agricultural and aquacultural lands of importance and initiate affirmative and comprehensive programs to promote economically productive agricultural and aquacultural uses of such lands.

(2) Assist in providing adequate, reasonably priced water for agricultural activities.

(3) Encourage public and private investment to increase water supply and to improve transmission, storage, and irrigation facilities in support of diversified agriculture and aquaculture.

(4) Assist in the formation and operation of production and marketing associations and cooperatives to reduce production and marketing costs.

(5) Encourage and assist with the development of a waterborne and airborne freight and cargo system capable of meeting the needs of Hawaii's agricultural community.

(6) Seek favorable freight rates for Hawaii's agricultural products from interisland and overseas transportation operators.

(7) Encourage the development and expansion of agricultural and aquacultural activities which offer long-term economic growth potential and employment opportunities.

(8) Continue the development of agricultural parks and other programs to assist small independent farmers in securing agricultural lands and loans.

(9) Require agricultural uses in agricultural subdivisions and closely monitor the uses in these subdivisions.

(10) Support the continuation of land currently in use for diversified agriculture.

(11) Encourage residents and visitors to support Hawaii's farmers by purchasing locally grown food and food products.

[~~(e)~~] (d) Priority guidelines for water use and development:

(1) Maintain and improve water conservation programs to reduce the overall water consumption rate.

(2) Encourage the improvement of irrigation technology and promote the use of nonpotable water for agricultural and landscaping purposes.

(3) Increase the support for research and development of economically feasible alternative water sources.

(4) Explore alternative funding sources and approaches to support future water development programs and water system improvements.

[~~(f)~~] (e) Priority guidelines for energy use and development:

(1) Encourage the development, demonstration, and commercialization of renewable energy sources.

(2) Initiate, maintain, and improve energy conservation programs aimed at reducing energy waste and increasing public awareness of the need to conserve energy.

(3) Provide incentives to encourage the use of energy conserving technology in residential, industrial, and other buildings.

(4) Encourage the development and use of energy conserving and cost-efficient transportation systems.

[~~(g)~~] (f) Priority guidelines to promote the development of the information industry:

(1) Establish an information network, with an emphasis on broadband and wireless infrastructure and capability, that will serve as the foundation of and catalyst for overall economic growth and diversification in Hawaii.

(2) Encourage the development of services such as financial data processing, a products and services exchange, foreign language translations, telemarketing, teleconferencing, a twenty-four-hour international stock exchange, international banking, and a Pacific Rim management center.

(3) Encourage the development of small businesses in the information field such as software development; the development of new information systems, peripherals, and applications; data conversion and data entry services; and home or cottage services such as computer programming, secretarial, and accounting services.

(4) Encourage the development or expansion of educational and training opportunities for residents in the information and telecommunications fields.

(5) Encourage research activities, including legal research in the information and telecommunications fields.

(6) Support promotional activities to market Hawaii's information industry services.

(7) Encourage the location or co-location of telecommunication or wireless information relay facilities in the community, including public areas, where scientific evidence indicates that the public health, safety, and welfare would not be adversely affected."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	305
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII