[§148-62] Authorization to contract with nonprofit corporations; duties.  (a)  Thedepartment of agriculture may enter into contracts with nonprofit corporationsto engage in the activities in subsections (b), (c), and (d).  These nonprofitcorporations shall:

(1)  Maintainstatus as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to section 501(c) of the InternalRevenue Code of 1986, as amended; and

(2)  Consist of aboard of directors comprised of representatives from a cross-section ofagricultural organizations, commodity groups, and governmental agencies.

(b)  Thenonprofit corporations contracted under subsection (a) may develop andrecommend to the department of agriculture for adoption, rules relating to:

(1)  The design ofa seal of quality for agricultural products that are grown, processed, ormanufactured in Hawaii;

(2)  The standardsand criteria for agricultural products grown, processed, or manufactured inHawaii that must be satisfied to obtain use of the seal of quality; and

(3)  The licensefees required for use of the seal of quality.

(c)  Thenonprofit corporations contracted under subsection (a) shall:

(1)  Develop andimplement marketing programs for products licensed to use the seal of quality;

(2)  Issuelicenses for the use of the seal of quality and collect the license feesestablished by rules of the department of agriculture; and

(3)  Developpromotional materials and establish and collect fees for the use of thesepromotional materials.

(d)  Thenonprofit corporations contracted under subsection (a) may:

(1)  Assist thedepartment of agriculture in monitoring compliance with the requirements forthe use of the seal of quality; and

(2)  Accept giftsor grants in any form from any public agency or any other source. [L 2002, c163, pt of §2]