Report Title:
LRB; Agricultural Development Corporation; Working Group
Description:
Requests LRB to conduct a study and convene a working group to identify elements for the Hawaii agribusiness plan and to submit the LRB's and the working group's findings and recommendations to the legislature. (SD1)
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
3078 |
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TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 264, Session Laws of Hawaii 1994, created the agribusiness development corporation (ADC). The purpose of ADC was:
(1) To administer an aggressive and dynamic agribusiness development program;
(2) To coordinate and administer programs to assist agricultural enterprises to facilitate the transition of agricultural infrastructure from plantation operations into other agricultural enterprises;
(3) To carry on the marketing analysis to direct agricultural industry evolution; and
(4) To provide the leadership for the development, financing, improvement, or enhancement of agricultural enterprises.
One of the responsibilities the legislature tasked this new and dynamic entity with was to create the Hawaii agribusiness plan. The plan's purpose was to define and establish goals, objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for ADC's agribusiness development strategy. However, this plan was never created.
The legislature finds that this plan is of utmost importance because it will help to guide ADC and its Board of Directors in each program it administers. The purpose of this Act is to direct the legislative reference bureau to conduct a study to assist ADC in identifying elements to be included the Hawaii agribusiness plan.
SECTION 2. The legislative reference bureau shall conduct a study to identify elements that should be included in the Hawaii agribusiness plan. In developing its report, the legislative reference bureau shall:
(1) Identify the government agencies, public and private organizations, and individuals that are stakeholders that directly benefit from agribusiness development corporation (ADC);
(2) Convene a working group of the stakeholders in the agricultural industry, which shall include but not be limited to individuals from the department of agriculture, ADC, the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and county farm bureaus, as well as individual farmers and ranchers;
(3) Organize working group meetings and facilitate discussions and suggestions to improve ADC, identify the necessary elements for developing the Hawaii agribusiness plan, and evaluate the transfers proposed in the original S.B. No. 3078;
(4) Produce a report of its findings and recommendations, as well as the working group's findings and recommendations; and
(5) Submit its report to the legislature at least twenty days before the convening of the 2007 regular session.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.