THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1486
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
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 to increase the meat processing capacity in the State to satisfy local demands. Due to a shortage of facilities across the State, smaller ranchers and hunters compete for limited processing, chilling, and holding services, resulting in the loss of commercial sales opportunities and the potential use of wild game meat for donations to agencies that serve under-resourced communities.

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 nonprofit food distribution services, such as the State's network of food banks and Feed My Sheep, Inc. of Maui County. However, there is a gap between the hunters and the retailers and nonprofit services because the meat requires processing prior to distribution. For meat donation, other states such as Wisconsin and Michigan offer models that Hawaii can assess to develop processes for plan implementation and program funding, including licensing fees and other funding sources managed by wildlife agencies or nonprofits.

The purpose of this Act is to develop and appropriate funds for the expansion of the State's meat processing capacity, along with a donation program, to allow for meat sourced from axis deer and other wild game to be processed and donated for distribution by nonprofit food services to under-resourced communities.

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, in consultation with the county of Maui axis deer task force, shall develop and implement a plan 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 nonprofit food distribution services by July 1, 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 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 July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Meat Processing Capacity; Expansion; Food Distribution Services; Appropriation

Description:

Requires 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, in consultation with the County of Maui Axis Deer Task Force, to develop and implement a plan 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 nonprofit food distribution services by 7/1/2024.

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