Report Title:

Agricultural products; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to plan a terminal market pilot program on the Big Island. Appropriates funds to hire a consultant to assist in planning terminal markets. Appropriates funds for construction and equipment for a terminal market and vacuum cooling plant on the Big Island. Authorizes general obligation bonds to finance capital projects.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

159

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to agriculture.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds there is a need to address the weakened state of Hawaii's economy to improve the state's economic foundation and increase opportunity for all Hawaii residents.

Currently, farmers are hindered from selling food because of their inability to consolidate, process, and ship marketable quantities of food. The development of a pilot program is necessary to start a coordinated statewide network for agricultural processing, consolidation, marketing, and shipping facilities. Facilities for this purpose are referred to as terminal markets.

Terminal markets enable small and large farmers to sell crops for military and private food requirements through better processing, consolidation of small farm offerings, dependable delivery, and quality assurance. Operators of terminal markets in Hawaii should be bonded to assure timely payment for all foods accepted from farm, dairy, and ranch producers.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds and to authorize general obligation bonds for a terminal market pilot program on the Big Island, and to hire a consultant to assist in planning the program.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004 for the purpose of planning a pilot program on the island of Hawaii to demonstrate the first of several linked terminal markets to serve food producers, distributors, retailers, military buyers, private distributors, and retail outlets.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $50,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004 for the department of business, economic development, and tourism to hire a consultant, who shall be exempt from chapters 76, 78, and 89, to:

(1) Plan terminal markets on the islands of Maui and Hawaii to accept orders, process products for shipment, and to ship fresh foods to wholesale buyers using transportation available at the port of Hilo;

(2) Plan toward operation and coordination of similar facilities on Kauai and Oahu to be capable of filling military and private orders; and

(3) Prepare to build facilities and provide necessary equipment to achieve marketing goals.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004 for construction and equipment for the terminal market and vacuum cooling plant for the island of Hawaii.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $3,000,000 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 2003-2004 for the purpose of financing capital projects for the purposes of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism, for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. 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, 2006, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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