THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
490 |
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO COMMUNITY FOOD FORESTS.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the number of food stamp recipients in Hawaii has nearly doubled over the last six years. The legislature also acknowledges that Hawaii residents face among the highest costs of living in the nation, with inflation often outpacing the growth of provisional rates for state welfare.
The legislature further finds that due to the island geography of Hawaii, the long-term sustainability of the State depends upon improved uses of land that has already been developed. The legislature also finds that food production in populated areas may contribute significantly to community sustainability by providing locally-produced healthy food to those who cannot otherwise afford it.
Community and urban gardens, concepts which have been adopted statutorily in states like New York, California, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Maine, may provide a solution to the problem of increasing food costs and the dwindling availability of undeveloped land. By identifying and utilizing public lands, particularly those near existing community gathering places such as parks and community centers, to create community food forests that adopt edible landscaping concepts, the State may be able to provide additional sources of low- or no-cost food to residents, while also utilizing developed land for community sustainability purposes.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a community food forest program and to make an appropriation for this program.
SECTION 2. Chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§171- Community food forest program. (a)
The department shall establish and maintain a community food forest
program.
(b)
The community food forest
program shall develop a statewide network of locally-directed community food
forests in viable locations around the State by working with governmental and
nongovernmental organizations to:
(1) Identify
potential locations such as parks, community centers, or other locations that
may be suitable for community food forest use;
(2) Examine the
fiscal impacts of implementing a community food forest in identified areas,
particularly for the provision of food assistance to low-income residents, and
the impact on local farm revenues;
(3) Determine what
types of edible plants may be appropriate for growth in each planned community
food forest, including assessing relevant community culture, food and landscape
preferences, and environmental conditions;
(4) Take
appropriate steps to implement community food forests in identified locations,
including developing land, planting plants, and maintaining existing gardens;
(5) Provide
guidance and technical assistance to communities where community food forests
are to be placed to ensure continued food forest sustainability through
community participation;
(6) Develop
guidelines for the harvesting of plants grown in community food forests to
discourage theft and the harvesting of garden plants for sale;
(7) Develop
policies and procedures to protect public health and safety in the operation of
community food forests; and
(8) Lease public
land or improvements under the control of the department to governmental or
nongovernmental organizations for a period not to exceed fifteen years and on
such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the board, for the purpose of
managing or maintaining a community food forest.
(c) The department shall adopt rules in accordance
with chapter 91 to carry out the purposes of this section.
(d) The community food forest program shall
collaborate with interested stakeholders, including the communities where
community food forests will be placed, the department of agriculture, and other
state and county government agencies and private organizations concerned with
the development of community food forests.
(e) The department shall report to the
legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular
session, beginning with the regular session of 2020, describing the progress
made in implementing the program, including a review of potential community
food forest locations and the amount of community involvement in each potential
community food forest location.
(f) For the purposes
of this section:
"Plant" means any
member of the plant kingdom that bears edible fruit, seeds, or roots."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $125,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the establishment of a community food forest program, to be allocated as follows:
(1) $75,000 for a one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) community food forest program administrator; and
(2) $50,000 for operating expenses.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2050.
Report Title:
Community Food Forest Program; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes a community food forest program in the Department of Land and Natural Resources to work collaboratively with local government and community organizations to provide sources of healthy food statewide. Takes effect 12/31/2050. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.