HB 1606: DAB; ADC; Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch; Agricultural Development Division; Transfer

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

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

     SECTION 1.  All rights, powers, functions, and duties of the aquaculture and livestock support services branch of the department of agriculture and biosecurity are transferred to the agribusiness development corporation.

     All officers and employees whose functions are transferred by this Act shall be transferred with their functions and shall continue to perform their regular duties upon their transfer, subject to the state personnel laws and this Act.

     No officer or employee of the State having tenure shall suffer any loss of salary, seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefit or privilege as a consequence of this Act, and such officer or employee may be transferred or appointed to a civil service position without the necessity of examination; provided that the officer or employee possesses the minimum qualifications for the position to which transferred or appointed; and provided that subsequent changes in status may be made pursuant to applicable civil service and compensation laws.

     An officer or employee of the State who does not have tenure and who may be transferred or appointed to a civil service position as a consequence of this Act shall become a civil service employee without the loss of salary, seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefits or privileges and without the necessity of examination; provided that such officer or employee possesses the minimum qualifications for the position to which transferred or appointed.

     If an office or position held by an officer or employee having tenure is abolished, the officer or employee shall not thereby be separated from public employment, but shall remain in the employment of the State with the same pay and classification and shall be transferred to some other office or position for which the officer or employee is eligible under the personnel laws of the State as determined by the head of the department or the governor.

     SECTION 2.  All rights, powers, functions, and duties of the agricultural development division of the department of agriculture and biosecurity are transferred to the agribusiness development corporation.

     All officers and employees whose functions are transferred by this Act shall be transferred with their functions and shall continue to perform their regular duties upon their transfer, subject to the state personnel laws and this Act.

     No officer or employee of the State having tenure shall suffer any loss of salary, seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefit or privilege as a consequence of this Act, and such officer or employee may be transferred or appointed to a civil service position without the necessity of examination; provided that the officer or employee possesses the minimum qualifications for the position to which transferred or appointed; and provided that subsequent changes in status may be made pursuant to applicable civil service and compensation laws.

     An officer or employee of the State who does not have tenure and who may be transferred or appointed to a civil service position as a consequence of this Act shall become a civil service employee without the loss of salary, seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefits or privileges and without the necessity of examination; provided that such officer or employee possesses the minimum qualifications for the position to which transferred or appointed.

     If an office or position held by an officer or employee having tenure is abolished, the officer or employee shall not thereby be separated from public employment, but shall remain in the employment of the State with the same pay and classification and shall be transferred to some other office or position for which the officer or employee is eligible under the personnel laws of the State as determined by the head of the department or the governor.

     SECTION 3.  All appropriations, records, equipment, machines, files, supplies, contracts, books, papers, documents, maps, and other personal property heretofore made, used, acquired, or held by the department of agriculture and biosecurity relating to the functions transferred to the agribusiness development corporation shall be transferred with the functions to which they relate.

     SECTION 4.  All rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, and other material adopted or developed by the department of agriculture and biosecurity to implement provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes that are reenacted or made applicable to the agribusiness development corporation by this Act shall remain in full force and effect until amended or repealed by the agribusiness development corporation pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     In the interim, every reference to the department of agriculture and biosecurity in those rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, and other material is amended to refer to the agribusiness development corporation, as appropriate.

     SECTION 5.  All deeds, leases, contracts, loans, agreements, permits, or other documents executed or entered into by or on behalf of the department of agriculture and biosecurity pursuant to the provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes that are reenacted or made applicable to the agribusiness development corporation by this Act shall remain in full force and effect.  Upon the effective date of this Act, every reference to the department of agriculture and biosecurity or the chairperson of the board of agriculture and biosecurity therein shall be construed as a reference to the agribusiness development corporation or the executive director of the agribusiness development corporation, as appropriate.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DAB; ADC; Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch; Agricultural Development Division; Transfer

Description:

Transfers powers, duties, personnel, personal property, and materials of the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch and Agricultural Development Division of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Agribusiness Development Corporation.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

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

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to agriculture.

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

     SECTION 1.  All rights, powers, functions, and duties of the aquaculture and livestock support services branch of the department of agriculture and biosecurity are transferred to the agribusiness development corporation.

     All officers and employees whose functions are transferred by this Act shall be transferred with their functions and shall continue to perform their regular duties upon their transfer, subject to the state personnel laws and this Act.

     No officer or employee of the State having tenure shall suffer any loss of salary, seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefit or privilege as a consequence of this Act, and such officer or employee may be transferred or appointed to a civil service position without the necessity of examination; provided that the officer or employee possesses the minimum qualifications for the position to which transferred or appointed; and provided that subsequent changes in status may be made pursuant to applicable civil service and compensation laws.

     An officer or employee of the State who does not have tenure and who may be transferred or appointed to a civil service position as a consequence of this Act shall become a civil service employee without the loss of salary, seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefits or privileges and without the necessity of examination; provided that such officer or employee possesses the minimum qualifications for the position to which transferred or appointed.

     If an office or position held by an officer or employee having tenure is abolished, the officer or employee shall not thereby be separated from public employment, but shall remain in the employment of the State with the same pay and classification and shall be transferred to some other office or position for which the officer or employee is eligible under the personnel laws of the State as determined by the head of the department or the governor.

     SECTION 2.  All rights, powers, functions, and duties of the agricultural development division of the department of agriculture and biosecurity are transferred to the agribusiness development corporation.

     All officers and employees whose functions are transferred by this Act shall be transferred with their functions and shall continue to perform their regular duties upon their transfer, subject to the state personnel laws and this Act.

     No officer or employee of the State having tenure shall suffer any loss of salary, seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefit or privilege as a consequence of this Act, and such officer or employee may be transferred or appointed to a civil service position without the necessity of examination; provided that the officer or employee possesses the minimum qualifications for the position to which transferred or appointed; and provided that subsequent changes in status may be made pursuant to applicable civil service and compensation laws.

     An officer or employee of the State who does not have tenure and who may be transferred or appointed to a civil service position as a consequence of this Act shall become a civil service employee without the loss of salary, seniority, prior service credit, vacation, sick leave, or other employee benefits or privileges and without the necessity of examination; provided that such officer or employee possesses the minimum qualifications for the position to which transferred or appointed.

     If an office or position held by an officer or employee having tenure is abolished, the officer or employee shall not thereby be separated from public employment, but shall remain in the employment of the State with the same pay and classification and shall be transferred to some other office or position for which the officer or employee is eligible under the personnel laws of the State as determined by the head of the department or the governor.

     SECTION 3.  All appropriations, records, equipment, machines, files, supplies, contracts, books, papers, documents, maps, and other personal property heretofore made, used, acquired, or held by the department of agriculture and biosecurity relating to the functions transferred to the agribusiness development corporation shall be transferred with the functions to which they relate.

     SECTION 4.  All rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, and other material adopted or developed by the department of agriculture and biosecurity to implement provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes that are reenacted or made applicable to the agribusiness development corporation by this Act shall remain in full force and effect until amended or repealed by the agribusiness development corporation pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     In the interim, every reference to the department of agriculture and biosecurity in those rules, policies, procedures, guidelines, and other material is amended to refer to the agribusiness development corporation, as appropriate.

     SECTION 5.  All deeds, leases, contracts, loans, agreements, permits, or other documents executed or entered into by or on behalf of the department of agriculture and biosecurity, pursuant to the provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, that are reenacted or made applicable to the agribusiness development corporation by this Act shall remain in full force and effect.  Upon the effective date of this Act, every reference to the department of agriculture and biosecurity or the chairperson of the board agriculture and biosecurity therein shall be construed as a reference to the agribusiness development corporation or the executive director of the agribusiness development corporation, as appropriate.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

DAB; ADC; Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch; Agricultural Development Division; Transfer

Description:

Transfers oversight of the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Agribusiness Development Corporation.  Transfers the Agricultural Development Division of DAB to the ADC.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  9-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 1606

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 1606 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to transfer the powers, duties, personnel, personal property, and materials of the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch and Agricultural Development Division of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from HIplan; and Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and Animal Rights Hawaiʻi.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hawaiʻi County Department of Research and Development; and Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United.

     Your Committee finds that a significant portion of the State's aquaculture industry operates within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism through the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and with the administering of land and leases for aquaculture operations by the Agribusiness Development Corporation.  Your Committee further finds that bringing aquaculture development, land management, and support services into closer alignment under a single department by transferring the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch to the Agribusiness Development Corporation will improve coordination, reduce fragmentation, and support more effective long-term planning for Hawaii's aquaculture industry.

     Your Committee additionally finds that transferring the Agricultural Development Division to the Agribusiness Development Corporation will provide additional resources and tools that the Corporation has to the Division to further promote the economic viability of commercial agriculture in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1606, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1606, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development & Technology.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,