Section 141-12 - Agricultural food safety certification program(a) There is established within the department of agriculture an agricultural food safety certification program. The program shall:(1) Develop and implement a certification system that shall at a minimum comply with the requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act;(2) Support the agricultural industry and assist farmers and ranchers subject to the requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act by developing and implementing a food safety certification program that will concurrently satisfy the requirements of the department of agriculture and the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act;(3) Conduct research into alternative, less burdensome methods by which Hawaii's farmers and ranchers can satisfy the requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act;(4) Establish an education program, including online classes, that addresses compliance with state and federal food safety requirements for farmers and ranchers;(5) Serve as an information clearinghouse for all matters related to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and any other food safety laws; and(6) Undertake activities to improve and sustain the safety of agricultural foods and other functions as may be assigned by law.(b) The chairperson of the board of agriculture may employ:(1) One program manager and one specialist, who are qualified to apply the provisions and requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act to the program; and(2) One clerical staff person.(c) For purposes of this section, "agricultural food" includes food that is applicable to farmers and ranchers under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act.Added by L 2016, c 106,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2016.