Report Title:

Waimanalo Research and Outreach Center

Description:

Authorizes the issuance of GO bonds for UH to develop a long-range plan for a Waimanalo research and outreach center. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2370

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the waimanalo research and outreach center.

 

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

SECTION 1. (a) The University of Hawaii (university) shall develop a plan for a research and outreach center (center) to be located in Waimanalo. The center shall provide the following:

(1) Laboratories;

(2) A small commercial food processing facility;

(3) Experimental food laboratories;

(4) Offices;

(5) Conference rooms;

(6) Distance education facilities;

(7) Multi-media classrooms;

(8) Dormitories;

(9) Greenhouses;

(10) Secured greenhouses for genetically modified plants;

(11) Field plots for plants and animals;

(12) Secured field plots for genetically modified plants and animals; and

(13) Plants displays for general education.

(b) The college of tropical agriculture and human resources shall consult with the department of land and natural resources and Meadow Gold Dairies to gain title of all the lands formerly used by the Meadow Gold Waimanalo dairy in order to obtain land for the building of the center and complement academic programs on the university's Manoa campus.

(c) The center shall be anchored on the foundation of the functions of college of tropical agriculture and human resources, U.S.D.A. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S.D.A. Agricultural Research Service, and the John A. Burns school of medicine.

(d) The center shall provide secure field facilities for plant and animal biotechnology research. These facilities shall be available for the college and other university faculty to work on animal biotechnology. The center shall:

(1) Provide facilities to develop integrated crop and livestock production systems;

(2) Provide agricultural diagnostic services for the public;

(3) Sell seeds of crop varieties developed by the college;

(4) Develop human resources programs for families and youth;

(5) Provide healthy living programs;

(6) Develop agribusiness programs;

(7) Develop environment-friendly production systems;

(8) Develop tropical bioremediation programs;

(9) Provide displays of tropical fruit trees;

(10) Provide displays of ornamental and landscape plants;

(11) Provide displays of endangered native plants; and

(12) Develop an ecosystem display for students and eco-tourists.

(e) The university may play a major role in Pacific Rim economies where the world's largest and fastest growing populations reside. The university is the only Carnegie I research intensive institution in the tropics. The university may develop food production and processing models that are economically and environmentally sustainable. The models developed in Hawaii may be used as a resource for Asia and the Pacific.

(f) The plan for a research and outreach center shall include comprehensive research on the potential impacts of genetically modified organism research in Hawaii and recommend appropriate protocols and implementation guidelines that will ensure the integrity of locally grown food crops and indigenous plants.

SECTION 2. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $330,000, 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 2004-2005, for plans, land acquisition, design, and construction for a research and outreach center in Waimanalo.

SECTION 3. 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 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.