SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in the event of an emergency, catastrophic event, or quarantine where state harbors and airports would be closed for an indefinite period of time, the issue of food security would become of paramount importance. It is imperative that the legislature act now to address food security issues stemming from catastrophic events that could entirely prevent cargo ships from reaching port or aircraft from air dropping supplies, leaving the State completely self-reliant to meet the food needs of the people.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a temporary food security task force to develop an emergency food plan for the State that addresses certain food security issues resulting from an emergency, catastrophic event, or quarantine.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established at the national disaster preparedness training center at the University of Hawaii for administrative purposes a temporary food security task force.

(b) The task force shall develop an emergency food plan for the State that addresses certain food security issues resulting from an emergency, catastrophic event, or quarantine that leaves the State completely self-reliant to meet the food needs of the people.

(c) The executive director of the national disaster preparedness training center at the University of Hawaii, or the executive director's designee, shall serve as chairperson of the task force.

(d) In addition to the executive director of the national disaster preparedness training center at the University of Hawaii, the task force shall consist of the following members or their representatives:

(1) The adjutant general and director of Hawaii emergency management;

(2) The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources;

(3) The chairperson of the Hawaii advisory council on emergency management;

(4) The chairperson of the agribusiness development corporation board of directors;

(5) The dean and director of the college of tropical agriculture and human resources; and

(6) The chairperson of the board of agriculture.

(e) The chairperson of the task force shall invite representatives from the following stakeholders to participate as members:

(1) The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation;

(2) The Hawaii Farmers Union United board of directors;

(3) The United States military;

(4) The Hawaii Organic Farmers Association;

(5) The Hawaii Longline Association;

(6) The Taro Security and Purity Task Force;

(7) Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association;

(8) Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; and

(9) Other interested parties, as determined by the chairperson.

(f) The task force shall:

(1) Identify public and private lands that could be cultivated for immediate emergency farming;

(2) Identify irrigation equipment and infrastructure needs for large scale farming;

(3) Identify the best crops to grow in terms of nutrition and harvest cycle;

(4) Identify current agriculture operations or companies that could assist the State in growing the best crops;

(5) Examine the feasibility of creating public orchards on government land or planting five thousand fruit trees in state and county parks within the next five years;

(6) Examine the feasibility of using commercial fishermen to provide food from the sea;

(7) Develop a plan to distribute information and resources for individual home gardens, including emergency seed packets;

(8) Consider deer, boar, and wild goat populations as sources of food for any plan;

(9) Develop a food distribution and conservation plan involving existing retail and wholesale food stores and other food bank operations;

(10) Identify vulnerable populations during a food crisis;

(11) Develop an emergency food drop program that identifies other countries, government agencies, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and others who may participate in emergency food drop efforts; and

(12) Develop a security plan to monitor and protect farms and other food growing areas.

(g) The task force shall submit reports of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature as follows:

(1) An interim report no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016; and

(2) A final report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2017.

(h) The task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2017.

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 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for costs incurred by the food security task force pursuant to this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	256
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII