HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	606
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MEAT PROCESSING.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a need for increased meat processing capacity in the State, as smaller ranchers and hunters compete for limited capacity, resulting in the loss of potential use of wild game meat.

The legislature further finds that axis deer, an invasive species that poses a continuing threat to Hawaii's environment, could provide significant quantities of meat as a protein source for non-profit food distribution services, such as Feed My Sheep and the Hawaii Foodbank. However, there is a gap between the hunters and these non-profit services because the meat needs to be processed prior to distribution. Other states have developed processes for this purpose, including licensing fees and other funding managed by wildlife agencies or non-profit organizations.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of agriculture, in collaboration with other state agencies, to develop and implement a plan to expand the State's meat processing capacity to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be distributed by non-profit food distribution services.

SECTION 2. The department of agriculture, in collaboration with the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness; department of land and natural resources, division of forestry and wildlife; and department of health, food safety branch, shall develop and implement a plan by July 1, 2025, to expand the meat processing capacity in the State to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be processed for distribution by non-profit food distribution services.

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 for the implementation of a plan to expand the meat processing capacity in the State pursuant to this Act.

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 June 30, 3000.

Report Title:

Meat Processing Capacity; Expansion; Food Distribution Services; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the department of agriculture, in collaboration with other state agencies, to develop and implement a plan by 7/1/2025 to expand the meat processing capacity in the State to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be processed for distribution by non-profit food distribution services. Appropriates funds. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

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