THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2790

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

related to agriculture.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that over the past four decades, agriculture in Hawaii has been in decline.  Since 1980, the value of all agricultural products in the State has declined by 72.9 per cent.  The State's agricultural sector is characterized by its diverse set of crop production, unique tropical island climate, various scaled farming operations, diverse marketing strategies, and statewide efforts to revitalize the State's food systems.

     The legislature further finds that the biggest threat to the State's food sovereignty is the current dependence upon importation.  In the face of climate change and global food production instability, the State's capacity to regather and digest its own agricultural data is a critical function to help the State's farmers and ranchers survive and thrive.  However, the efficacy of decision-making, statewide planning, and sustainable growth of the agricultural industry relies heavily upon the availability of timely, reliable, accurate, and comprehensive data.  This aspect of the agricultural sector faces significant challenges due to resource constraints that impede further collection, analysis, and dissemination of timely agricultural data.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the department of agriculture to conduct a study on agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers;

     (2)  Appropriate funds for two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions to collect, manipulate, and graph data, and to build an agricultural data dashboard for public consumption; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds for the one year study on agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of agriculture shall conduct a study on agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers, that includes strategies and actions that support agriculture and a robust agricultural sector in the State.

     (b)  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 2025.

     SECTION 3.  In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $           or       per cent.  This current declaration takes into account general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act only.  The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

     (1)  The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

     (2)  The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

     SECTION 4.  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 2024-2025 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position data scientist, statistician, or market analyst to conduct data analysis and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position field researcher to collect relevant agricultural data for the agricultural statistics services to build an agricultural data dashboard for public consumption.

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

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for a one year study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers.

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

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

 

Report Title:

DOA; Agricultural Markets Study; Agricultural Statistics Services; Report; Expenditure Ceiling; Appropriations

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture to hire two FTE positions to collect, manipulate, and graph data and to build an agricultural data dashboard for public consumption and a one year study on agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers.  Requires a report to the Legislature.  Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded.

 

 

 

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