THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3096
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR AN AGRICULTURE INNOVATION CENTER.

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

SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. The legislature finds that increasing the consumption of local food and promoting healthy eating habits, particularly among children, are vital to healthy families and healthy communities. In 2015, the legislature passed Act 218, which created a farm to school program, because farm to school activities have been shown to support nutritious school food environments and to establish healthy behaviors at an early age. Moreover, in 2021, the legislature passed Act 175, which established a goal that at least thirty per cent of the food served in public schools be locally sourced by 2030.

The legislature also finds that to increase the amount of locally grown food served in public schools, it is vital to have the proper facilities. An agriculture innovation center would allow to the State to grow food locally, teach students about growing food, and teach students about all aspects of agriculture. The center would enable students to pursue viable careers in agriculture and would promote the growth and consumption of locally grown foods.

The legislature further finds that there is a proposal to build a state-of-the-art agriculture innovation center on the island of Kauai. The proposed facility has the potential to provide agricultural opportunities for students on Kauai, as well as statewide, nationally, and internationally. Beyond growing food, students would be taught the development of value-added products; finance; soil research; science, technology, engineering, and math research; and aquaculture. This agriculture innovation center could become a thriving hub for science, technology, engineering, and math curriculum and provide career opportunities for all of Hawaii's youth.

The purpose of this Act is to provide an emergency appropriation for fiscal year 2021-2022 to build an agriculture innovation center and create an agricultural program on the island of Kauai.

SECTION 3. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2021-2022 for the purpose of building an agriculture innovation center for the department of education.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education.

SECTION 4. The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2024, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

DOE; Agriculture; Innovation; Emergency Appropriation

Description:

Provides an emergency appropriation for the Department of Education to build an agriculture innovation center. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

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