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HRS §148-62

Letting nonprofit groups run the Hawaii quality seal program

The agriculture department can hire nonprofit groups to run the Hawaii quality seal program. These groups must be tax-exempt and have a board with members from farming and government. They can suggest rules, run marketing, issue licenses, collect fees, and accept gifts.

businessesstate agencies

The statute, as written — Authorization to contract with nonprofit corporations; duties

(a) The department of agriculture and biosecurity may enter into contracts with nonprofit corporations to engage in the activities in subsections (b), (c), and (d). These nonprofit corporations shall: (1) Maintain status as a nonprofit corporation pursuant to section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and (2) Consist of a board of directors comprised of representatives from a cross-section of agricultural organizations, commodity groups, and governmental agencies. (b) The nonprofit corporations contracted under subsection (a) may develop and recommend to the department of agriculture and biosecurity for adoption, rules relating to: (1) The design of a seal of quality for agricultural products that are grown, processed, or manufactured in Hawaii; (2) The standards and criteria for agricultural products grown, processed, or manufactured in Hawaii that must be satisfied to obtain use of the seal of quality; and (3) The license fees required for use of the seal of quality. (c) The nonprofit corporations contracted under subsection (a) shall: (1) Develop and implement marketing programs for products licensed to use the seal of quality; (2) Issue licenses for the use of the seal of quality and collect the license fees established by rules of the department of agriculture and biosecurity; and (3) Develop promotional materials and establish and collect fees for the use of these promotional materials. (d) The nonprofit corporations contracted under subsection (a) may: (1) Assist the department of agriculture and biosecurity in monitoring compliance with the requirements for the use of the seal of quality; and (2) Accept gifts or grants in any form from any public agency or any other source.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.