§26-16 - Department of agriculture.

§26-16 Department of agriculture. (a) The department of agriculture shall be headed by an executive board to be knownas the board of agriculture.

The board shall consist of ten members:

(1) One who shall be a resident of the county ofHawaii;

(2) One who shall be a resident of the county ofMaui;

(3) One who shall be a resident of the county ofKauai;

(4) Four at large;

(5) The chairperson of the board of land and naturalresources, who shall serve as an ex officio voting member;

(6) The director of business, economic development,and tourism, who shall serve as an ex officio voting member; and

(7) The dean of the University of Hawaii college oftropical agriculture and human resources, who shall serve as an ex officiovoting member.

The majority of the members of the board shall befrom the agricultural community or the agricultural support sector. Theappointment, tenure, and removal of the members and the filling of vacancies onthe board shall be as provided in section 26-34. The governor shall appoint achairperson of the board from the members.

(b) The board may delegate to the chairpersonsuch duties, powers, and authority, or so much thereof, as may be lawful orproper for the performance of the functions vested in the board.

The chairperson of the board shall serve in afull-time capacity. The chairperson shall, in that capacity:

(1) Perform such duties and exercise such powers andauthority, or so much thereof, as may be delegated to the chairperson by theboard; and

(2) Identify problems related to agriculture and theappropriate state agencies and departments needed to solve the problem. Withthe approval of the governor, the designated agencies shall provide anynecessary assistance to the chairperson until the problem is resolved.

(1) Promote the conservation, development, andutilization of agricultural resources in the State;

(2) Assist the farmers of the State and any othersengaged in agriculture by research projects, dissemination of information, cropand livestock reporting service, market news service, and any other means ofimproving the well-being of those engaged in agriculture and increasing theproductivity of the lands;

(3) Administer the programs of the State relating toanimal husbandry, entomology, farm credit, development and promotion ofagricultural products and markets, and the establishment and enforcement of therules on the grading and labeling of agricultural products; and

(4) Administer the aquaculture program under section141-2.5.

(d) The functions and authority heretoforeexercised by the board of commissioners of agriculture and forestry (except themanagement of state parks and the conservation, development, and utilization offorest resources, including regulatory powers over the forest reserve providedin Act 234, section 2, Session Laws of Hawaii 1957, and of fish and gameresources transferred to the department of land and natural resources), by thefarm loan board as heretofore constituted, and by the University of Hawaii withrespect to the crop and livestock reporting service and market news service,are transferred to the department of agriculture established by this chapter.[L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §22; am L 1961, c 132, §1(f); am L 1963, c 206, §1; am L1965, c 214, §1 and c 223, §8(c); Supp, §14A-21; am L 1967, c 145, §2; HRS§26-16; am L 1969, c 4, §1; am L 1973, c 15, §1; am L 1982, c 147, §1; am L1983, c 12, §1 and c 141, §1; am L 1991, c 135, §1; am L 1995, c 69, §1; am L1996, c 166, §2; am L 1998, c 176, §4]