HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	75
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE HAWAII'S FOOD READINESS AND FOOD SECURITY IN RESPONSE TO NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTERS.

     WHEREAS, the state is over-reliant on outside sources for food, importing 85 percent of our food; and

     WHEREAS, food self-sufficiency is one of the foundations of a sustainable community; and

     WHEREAS, a disaster thousands of miles away can adversely affect us here days later; and

     WHEREAS, it is essential for the State to be efficiently organized and adequately funded to facilitate the production and distribution of food during an emergency; and

     WHEREAS, an appropriate response requires pre-planning and coordination across various federal, state, and county agencies, as well as farmers and community groups; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Agriculture (DOA) is requested to establish a working group to evaluate the State of Hawaii's food readiness and food security in response to natural or man-made disasters; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of 13 members as follows:

     (1)  One member from the Civil Defense Division of the Department of Defense (DOD);

     (2)  One member representing the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation;

     (3)  One member from each county department of public works;

     (4)  The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

     (5)  The Director of Transportation, or the Director's designee;

     (6)  The Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, or the Chairperson's designee;

     (7)  One representative from the United States Department of Agriculture;

     (8)  One representative from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA);

     (9)  One member representing the Hawaii Food Industry Association (HFIA); and

    (10)  One member from the Hawaii food industry representing both food distributors and food suppliers;

and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to hold meetings for the purpose of reporting to the Legislature on the current state of affairs in Hawaii concerning food readiness and food security and to make recommendations to:

     (1)  Ensure the availability of food in the short-term until supplies from the mainland arrive;

     (2)  Keep enough refrigeration to maintain the food supply; and

     (3)  Provide adequate training to ensure that emergency response is coordinated;

and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DOA is requested to provide needed administrative, professional, technical, and clerical support to the task force; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 30 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2009; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Secretary of Agriculture, Governor, Adjutant General, Director of Health, Director of Transportation, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Executive Director of HTA, the Mayor of each county of the state, Executive Director of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and President of HFIA.

Report Title: 

Food Readiness and Food Security Working Group; Report