THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1274

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEMP SPECIAL FUND.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to amend section 141-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to allow the industrial hemp special fund to be utilized for the department of agriculture's responsibilities regarding hemp created by Act 14, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, as amended by Act 137, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.

     Act 14, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, as amended by Act 137, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, established a registry for hemp processors within the department of health, created a hemp processor special fund within the department of health, and authorized the department of health to collect fees and fines for the program.  Act 14, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, as amended by Act 137, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, also tasked the department of agriculture with monitoring the transportation of hemp within the state and enforcing certain state restrictions regarding the growth of hemp within the State, but did not establish a special fund within the department of agriculture to perform these duties.  Amending the industrial hemp special fund will allow the department of agriculture to use the existing special fund to perform the new regulatory duties relating to hemp.

     SECTION 2.  Section 141-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§141-14[]  Industrial hemp] Hemp special fund; established.  (a)  There is created in the state treasury a special fund to be designated as the [industrial] hemp special fund to be administered by the department of agriculture.  Moneys deposited in this special fund shall be used to fulfill the purposes of [this] part III and shall include:

     (1)  Any moneys appropriated by the legislature to the special fund;

     (2)  [Any fees collected by the department of agriculture in relation to the industrial hemp pilot program; and] Moneys generated by the department of agriculture from the operations or enforcement of part III, including fines, awards, judgments, and settlements;

     (3)  The interest or return on investments earned from moneys in the special fund[.]; and

     (4)  Grants and gifts made to the special fund.

     (b)  The department of agriculture may use the moneys in the special fund to carry out the purposes of [this] part[,] III, including hiring employees, specialists, and consultants necessary to complete projects related to the purposes of [this] part[.] III."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the hemp special fund the sum of $50,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 to be used for the purposes of carrying out the department of agriculture's responsibilities under part III of chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

BY REQUEST


 

Report Title:

Hemp Special Fund; Industrial Hemp Special Fund; Department of Agriculture

 

Description:

Amends section 141-14, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to rename the Industrial Hemp Special Fund as the Hemp Special Fund and allow the fund to be utilized for the Department of Agriculture's responsibilities regarding hemp under part III of chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

 

 

 

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