Bill > HCR77

This Concurrent Resolution formally requests the Office of the Auditor, an independent government agency responsible for reviewing state programs, to conduct a performance audit of the ten agricultural parks managed by the Agricultural Resource Management Division of the Department of Agriculture. Agricultural parks are designated areas intended to support farming operations, and the audit is being initiated due to concerns about the effectiveness of the state's Agricultural Park Program in helping Hawaii grow more of its own food, as highlighted by past efforts to increase food production, media reports detailing challenges for small farmers in accessing these parks, and previous audits of related agricultural development corporations. The Office of the Auditor is expected to examine these parks, identify any deficiencies, and provide recommendations for improvement, including potential legislative changes, to the Legislature by early 2023.