| 47 | | - | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that hemp is among the fastest growing plants on earth and can be refined into a variety of useful items such as paper, rope, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, building insulation, biofuel, and animal feed. Hemp-derived products are so wide-ranging that the creation of a decorticator processing facility and its consequent production and sales of hemp-derived materials have the potential to boost economic growth and create jobs in the State. The legislature further finds that there is potentially numerous acreage designated for hemp production on Oahu, Hawaii island, Maui, and Kauai and that the lack of access to processing infrastructure hinders the ability of growers and producers to engage in large-scale processing of hemp plants. Thus, infrastructure established by the department of agriculture can provide for meaningful growth of the hemp industry and related jobs in the State. The legislature additionally finds that the unusable parts of processed hemp can be used to support organic composting in the State. Infrastructure could also be used by invasive species committees and the department of land and natural resources to properly process and dispose of invasive plant species to disrupt a potential route of contamination back into the land while also freeing up landfill space. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to: (1) Require the Department of Agriculture to hire a consultant to identify the infrastructure needs of hemp farmers and the hemp industry in Hawaii; and (2) Require the consultant to prepare and submit a report of the consultant's findings. SECTION 2. (a) The department of agriculture shall hire a consultant to work with hemp farmers to identify the infrastructure needs of hemp farmers and the hemp industry in Hawaii, considering the unique needs and geographic spread of licensed hemp farmers in the State and the various needs of the hemp industry. (b) No later than July 1, 2024, the consultant shall submit to the legislature, governor, and chairperson of the board of agriculture a report of the consultant's findings through a concise outline of recommended infrastructure by island. (c) The outline shall include schematics showing the various processing steps and infrastructure needed from harvest to product for various sectors, with: (1) Approximate costs per infrastructure component; (2) Sizing and capacity options (e.g., mobile vs. fixed and volume/mass per day); and (3) The approximate square footage required per component. SECTION 3. 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 for the department of agriculture to hire a consultant to: (1) Work with hemp farmers in Hawaii to identify the infrastructure needs of hemp farmers and the hemp industry in Hawaii; and (2) Prepare and submit a report of the consultant's findings, pursuant to section 2 of this Act. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on June 30, 3000. |
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| 47 | + | SECTION 1. The legislature finds that hemp is among the fastest growing plants on earth and can be refined into a variety of useful items such as paper, rope, textiles, clothing, biodegradable plastics, paint, building insulation, biofuel, and animal feed. Hemp-derived products are so wide-ranging that the creation of a decorticator processing facility and its consequent production and sales of hemp-derived materials have the potential to boost economic growth and create jobs in the State. The legislature further finds that there are potentially numerous acreages designated for hemp production on Maui, and that the lack of access to a decorticator facility hinders the ability of growers and producers to engage in large scale processing of hemp plants. Thus, a decorticator on Maui, established by the department of agriculture, can provide for meaningful growth of the hemp industry and related jobs in the State. The legislature additionally finds that the unusable parts of processed hemp can be used to support organic composting in the State. A decorticator can also be used by the Maui invasive species committee and the department of land and natural resources to properly process and dispose of invasive plant species to disrupt a potential route of contamination back into the land while also freeing up landfill space. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of agriculture to identify land for a centrally accessible decorticator facility on Maui and to plan, design, and construct such a facility for use by all eligible and interested parties in these areas. SECTION 2. 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 department of agriculture to identify a centrally accessible area of Maui, and plan, design, and construct a hemp decorticator facility for private and public use to process hemp and related plants into exportable products. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ |
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