HI HB609

Appropriates funds from general revenues to the Department of Agriculture for meat inspection services program costs for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, with the specific amount left blank in the bill text.

Establishes one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) inspector program supervisor position and three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) inspector positions to perform meat inspection services under chapter 159, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Addresses Hawaii's meat inspection capacity needs driven by consumer demand for locally grown beef and the axis deer population explosion in Maui County.

Notes that Hawaii's state meat inspection program was discontinued in the mid-1990s due to budget cuts and seeks to restore and update the program to comply with current federal requirements.

Effective date set for June 30, 3000 (appears to be a drafting error, as this date is far in the future).