HI SB1486

Department of Agriculture must develop and implement a plan to expand meat processing and distribution capacity in Hawaii, in collaboration with the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness, Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department of Health Food Safety Branch, and in consultation with the County of Maui Axis Deer Task Force.

Plan shall allow meat from axis deer (an invasive species) and other wild game to be processed and distributed by nonprofit food distribution services to under-resourced communities.

Meat distribution under the plan must commence no later than July 1, 2024.

Legislature finds that insufficient meat processing facilities across the State limit commercial opportunities for ranchers and hunters and hinder wild game meat donations to food banks and nonprofits like Feed My Sheep, Inc.

Appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to the Department of Agriculture for plan development and implementation; Act takes effect July 1, 2050.