THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

130

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the ESTABLISHMENT of a bona fide agricultural producer task force to create a definition for the term "bona fide agricultural producer".

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii's local agricultural producers provide fresh and healthy foods and products that benefit the people of Hawaii; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State recognizes the important service that local agricultural producers provide in sustaining Hawaii's quality of life and local economy; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State often assists agricultural producers through legislation and restricts abuse of government programs by limiting assistance to bona fide agricultural producers; and

 

     WHEREAS, creation of a definition for the term "bona fide agricultural producer" is important to ensure the effectiveness of current and future government policies and programs; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the House of Representatives concurring, that this body is requested to establish a Bona Fide Agricultural Producer Task Force to create a definition for the term "bona fide agricultural producer"; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may create a single definition to be used across state government or create different definitions to be applied for different uses; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the membership of the task force is requested to include five representatives of farmers and ranchers, with at least one from each county, and one designee of each of the following:

 

     (1)  President of the Senate;

 

     (2)  Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

     (3)  Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture;

 

     (4)  Chair of the Senate Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture;

 

     (5)  Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture;

 

     (6)  Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources;

 

     (7)  Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; and

 

     (8)  Director of Taxation; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to elect a chairperson from among its members; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to 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 2017; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture; Chair of the Senate Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture; Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture; Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources; Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission; and Director of Taxation.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Bona Fide Agricultural Producer Task Force