HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

174

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to environmental protection.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  (a)  The department of health shall convene a working group to develop minimal environmental management measures for state-owned agricultural land.

     (b)  The working group shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The director of health or the director's designee, who shall serve as the chairperson of the working group;

     (2)  The chairperson of the board of agriculture or the chairperson's designee;

     (3)  The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources or the chairperson's designee;

     (4)  The director of the office of planning;

     (5)  A representative of the nonpoint source pollution management and control program;

     (6)  One member representing the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation;

     (7)  One member representing the Hawaii Farmers Union United; and

     (8)  Any other member that the director of health chooses to designate.

     (c)  The working group shall research and develop environmental management measures for state-owned lands, and shall address and make recommendations on:

     (1)  Amending chapter 342E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to include more specific measures relating to the management of nonpoint source pollution and agency enforcement powers to enforce such measures;

     (2)  Possible environmental management programs for agricultural lands, including creating new environmentally sensitive infrastructure and redeveloping existing infrastructure to be environmentally sensitive;

     (3)  Technical plans for agricultural land to keep soil on those lands, including the use of minimal best practice guidelines to provide for sustainable agricultural fields; and

     (4)  Funding needed to implement the programs and plans.

     (d)  The working group shall report 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 2018. 

     (e)  The members of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

     (f)  No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the working group.

     (g)  The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2018.

     SECTION 2.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


Report Title:

Working Group; Environmental Management; Nonpoint Source Pollution; Agricultural Lands

 

Description:

Requires the Department of Health to establish a working group to develop environmental management measures for State-owned lands.

 

 

 

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