REPORT TITLE:
Right to Farm


DESCRIPTION:
Amends definition of "farming operation" to include silviculture;
permits a finding that a farming operation is not a nuisance to
be based on substantial compliance with pertinent regulations.
(HB2999 HD2)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2999
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE RIGHT TO FARM.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  Section 165-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 2 amended to read as follows:
 
 3      "§165-2 Definitions.  As used in this chapter, unless the
 
 4 context otherwise requires:
 
 5      ["Established date of operation" means the date on which the
 
 6 original farming operation first commenced operation.  If the
 
 7 physical facilities of the farming operation are subsequently
 
 8 expanded or new technology adopted, the established date of
 
 9 operation for each change shall be the same as the established
 
10 date of operation for the original operation, provided that this
 
11 does not violate existing state law or county ordinances.]
 
12      "Farming operation" means a commercial agricultural,
 
13 silvicultural, or aquacultural facility or pursuit conducted, in
 
14 whole or in part, including the care and production of livestock
 
15 and livestock products, poultry and poultry products, [and]
 
16 apiary[, horticultural, or floricultural products;] products, and
 
17 plant and animal production for nonfood uses; the planting,
 
18 cultivating, [and] harvesting, and processing of crops; and the
 
19 farming or ranching of any plant or animal species in a
 
20 controlled salt, brackish, or freshwater environment.  "Farming
 

 
Page 2                                                     2999
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 operation" also includes[,] but shall not be limited to[,
 
 2 marketed]:
 
 3      (1)  Marketed produce at roadside stands or farm markets;
 
 4           [noises,]
 
 5      (2)  Noises, odors, dust, and fumes emanating from a
 
 6           commercial agricultural or an aquacultural facility or
 
 7           pursuit; [operation]
 
 8      (3)  Operation of machinery and irrigation pumps; [ground]
 
 9      (4)  Ground and aerial seeding and spraying; [the]
 
10      (5)  The application of chemical fertilizers, conditioners,
 
11           insecticides, pesticides, and herbicides; and [the]
 
12      (6)  The employment and use of labor.
 
13 A farming operation that conducts processing operations or salt,
 
14 brackish, or freshwater aquaculture operations on land that is
 
15 zoned for industrial, commercial, or other nonagricultural use
 
16 shall not, by reason of that zoning, fall beyond the scope of
 
17 this definition; provided that those processing operations form
 
18 an integral part of operations that otherwise meet the
 
19 requirements of this definition.
 
20      "Nuisance" means any interference with reasonable use and
 
21 enjoyment of land, including but not limited to smoke, odors,
 
22 dust, noise, or vibration; provided that nothing in this chapter
 
23 shall in any way restrict or impede the authority of the State to
 

 
Page 3                                                     2999
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 2
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 protect the public health, safety, and welfare.  "Nuisance" as
 
 2 used in this chapter, includes all claims that meet the
 
 3 requirements of this definition regardless of whether a
 
 4 complainant designates such claims as brought in nuisance,
 
 5 negligence, trespass, or any other area of law or equity;
 
 6 provided that nuisance as used in this chapter does not include
 
 7 an alleged nuisance that involves water pollution or flooding."
 
 8      SECTION 2.  Section 165-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 9 amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
 
10      "(a)  No court, official, public servant, or public employee
 
11 shall declare any farming operation a nuisance for any reason if
 
12 all of the following have been proven:
 
13      (1)  That during the twelve-month period preceding the
 
14           filing of the nuisance complaint with a court or other
 
15           adjudicative public body, the farming operation
 
16           substantially complied with statutes, ordinances,
 
17           regulations, or rules relevant to the nuisance
 
18           complaint; and
 
19      (2)  That the farming operation has used reasonable care in
 
20           conducting its operation."
 
21      SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed.
 
22 New statutory material is underscored.
 
23      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.