THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1603

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to meat donation.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there is a need for an increased protein donation capacity to feed our local under-resourced population.  Existing law specifically prohibits the inclusion of meat as a donation; however, wild game can be a significant source of protein.  The inclusion of wild game as a donation-eligible food resource creates a beneficial outlet for food-safe meat harvested from invasive species.

     The legislature also finds that Wisconsin, Michigan, and Utah offer meat donation programs that can serve as models that Hawaii can assess to develop tools for long term, sustainable, management programs for invasive species.  For example, Utah amended their Good Samaritan law to enable the harvest of white tail deer meat for donation to charities and provided an exception to antemortem inspection if certain requirements and conditions are met.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to amend the conditions for donations to allow provision of this important protein source to under-resourced communities, including the homeless.

     SECTION 2.  Section 145D-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:

     "(d)  The exceptions to liability specified in subsection (a) shall include:

     (1)  The donation of perishable or nonperishable food that has exceeded the labeled shelf life date recommended by the manufacturer; [and]

     (2)  The donation of farm produce; provided that the good-faith donor or distributor reasonably believes that the food is fit for human consumption[.]; and

     (3)  The donation of livestock or wild game meat; provided that the good-faith donor harvested the meat in a food safe manner, processed the meat in accordance with section 159-25 and the distributor reasonably believes that the food is fit for human consumption.

     (e)  For the purposes of this section:

     "Donor" means any individual, food vendor, food manufacturer, food distributor, grocery or convenience store, charitable or nonprofit organization, butcher, meat processor, or government agency that donates food to needy persons where the food in question has been prepared and packaged in a facility meeting all relevant food safety guidelines, certifications, and requirements and has passed all food safety inspections.

     "Farm produce" means all agricultural, horticultural, and vegetable produce of the soil, but does not include poultry, poultry products, livestock and livestock products, aquaculture and aquaculture products, and timber or timber products."

     SECTION 3.  (a)  There is established a meat processing task force to develop and implement a plan to expand the meat processing capacity in the State to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be processed for distribution by nonprofit food distribution services.  The meat processing task force shall be composed of the following members:

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

     (2)  One member from the department of health, selected by the director of health;

     (3)  One member from the department of business, economic development, and tourism, selected by the director of business, economic development, and tourism;

     (4)  The administrator of the division of forestry and wildlife within the department of land and natural resources or the administrator's designee;

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

     (6)  One member from the Environmental Protection Agency who shall be invited by the co-chairs;

     (7)  Four members, one each to be appointed by the respective mayors of the city and county of Honolulu, and the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui; and

     (8)  Four members to be jointly selected and invited to participate by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, of which two members shall be selected from an environmental nonprofit organization, and two members shall be selected from an agricultural or ranching association.

     Task force members may recommend to the task force additional members with appropriate specialized expertise, subject to approval by the chairperson.

     (b)  The task force shall create a master plan to expand the meat processing capacity in the State to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be processed for distribution by nonprofit food distribution services.

     (c)  The task force shall submit a report of 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 2024.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the meat processing task force to develop and implement a masterplan to expand meat processing capacity in the State to allow for wild game to be distributed by nonprofit food distributors.

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

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Agriculture; Meat Processing Capacity; Expansion; Food Distribution Services; Task Force; Appropriation

 

Description:

Provides for donation of wild game to under-resourced communities.  Establishes a task force for development and implementation to expand meat processing capacity in the State.  Appropriates funds.

 

 

 

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