Section 15-6-16.5 - Force majeure eventa) A force majeure event may be accepted by the department by: (1) An official announcement or declaration by a federal official or agency; or(2) An official announcement or declaration by a state official or agency. (b) A business engaged in agricultural production or processing may apply annually to the department for allowable benefits under chapter 209E, HRS, during a force majeure event by completing and submitting the application form authorized by the department. The business shall also complete and submit annually to the department a department approved end-of-the-year report.(c) If the department approves a business' annual force majeure application, the business is eligible to receive annual certification for allowable benefits under chapter 209E, HRS, without meeting the eligibility requirements under section 209E-9, HRS, for the period during which the business is prevented from maintaining these requirements or the business is interrupted by reason of the force majeure event. For the purposes of this section, a business" gross receipts, and either number of employees or gross sales, as applicable under section 209E-9, HRS, shall be compared against that which the business reported in the year prior to the first year the business" force majeure application was approved.[2/28/2015] (Auth: HRS § 209E-8) (Imp: HRS 209E-14)