Laserfiche WebLink
Exhibit A •B • INO. <br /> A BILL FOR AN ACT <br /> RELATING TO THE COUNTY AUTHORITY CONCERNING AGRICULTURE <br /> BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: <br /> 1 SECTION 1 . The primary objective of the Hawaii Right To Farm <br /> 2 Act was to protect agricultural land and promote the use of <br /> 3 agriculturally suitable lands for agriculture, as well as to <br /> 4 prevent conflicts arising due to encroaching development . On <br /> 5 the other hand each County has an interest in preventing the <br /> 6 establishment of agricultural technologies that are adverse to <br /> 7 what are generally accepted agricultural practices within that <br /> 8 county. In particular this amendment makes clear that each <br /> 9 County, through its elected county council, has the right to <br /> 10 regulate the cultivation of genetically modified crops . <br /> 11 <br /> 12 The Counties are aware that, in light of the danger of cross <br /> 13 pollination, such that the cultivation of genetically modified <br /> 14 crops in one location can undermine the cultivation of <br /> 15 neighboring non-GMO crops . In light of the substantial <br /> 16 controversy surrounding the cultivation of GMO crops and the <br /> 17 differential in the likelihood of cross pollination depending <br /> 18 upon the type of crop being cultivated, County level oversight <br /> 19 concerning the cultivation of GMO crops is appropriate . <br /> 20 <br /> 21 The Counties are also aware that in 2013 the biotech <br /> 22 companies lead an effort to gut the jurisdiction of the <br /> 23 counties, such that they would not longer have any authority <br /> 24 over matters concerning the health and wellbeing of their <br /> 25 residents . See for example 2013 Senate Bill 727 . In addition <br /> 26 Biotech companies advocated to further erode the ability of <br /> 27 either the state or the counties to regulate the cultivation of <br /> 28 genetically modified crops . See for example 2013 Senate Bill <br /> 29 590 . The Counties abhor these efforts to undermine local <br /> 30 government and prevent meaningful public input on the local <br /> 31 level . <br /> 32 <br /> 33 SECTION 2 . Section 165-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is <br /> 34 amended to read as follows : <br /> 35 Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that when <br /> 36 nonagricultural land uses extend into agricultural areas, <br /> 37 farming operations often become the subject of nuisance lawsuits <br />