HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2275
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§141- Grant program; beginning farmer and rancher start-up costs. (a) There is established in the department of agriculture a grant program to assist beginning farmers and ranchers in meeting the operating costs, including start-up and organization costs, to start their farm or ranch operations.

(b) The program shall provide grants to qualified applicants with the following terms and conditions:

(1) No grant shall be given unless the applicant has a fifty per cent match of funds to start the farm or ranch operation;

(2) The total amount of a grant to any one applicant or organization shall not exceed $15,000;

(3) The applicant shall be a beginning farmer or beginning rancher;

(4) The applicant shall have received all applicable business and tax licenses and permits;

(5) The applicant shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law;

(6) The grant shall not be used for the purposes of entertainment; and

(7) The qualified applicant and grant application shall comply with other requirements as the department may prescribe including, but not limited to, providing tax returns, business licenses, financial records, and tax clearances or compliance certificates and making available to the department all records the applicant may have relating to the grant, and shall allow state agencies to monitor the applicant's compliance with any and all grant conditions.

(c) The department may adopt interim rules, which shall be exempt from chapter 91 and chapter 201M, to effectuate the purposes of the program; provided that any interim rules shall only remain in effect until July 1, 2022, or until rules are adopted pursuant to chapter 91, whichever occurs sooner.

(d) The grant applications shall be reviewed and approved by an administrative staff member of the department.

(e) As used in this section, "beginning farmer" means a new farm enterprise or person who has not farmed commercially or has been farming for less than two years preceding the application by the enterprise or person.

(f) As used in this section, "beginning rancher" means a new ranch enterprise or person who has not ranched commercially or has been ranching for less than two years preceding the application by the enterprise or person."

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the purposes of this Act.

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

SECTION 3. Any provision of this Act to the contrary notwithstanding, the appropriations authorized under this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal year for which the appropriation is made. Any unexpended and unencumbered balance of the appropriation made in this Act as of the close of business on June 30, 2022, shall lapse.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

Report Title:

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Grant Program; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Grant Program under the Department of Agriculture. Allows the Department to make grants to start new commercial farms and ranches. Makes appropriation.

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