HB2059

Report Title:

Food Security Commission; Hunger Free Hawaii

Description:

Establishes a food security commission to target hunger issues in Hawaii.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2059
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Relating to the establishment of the food SECURITY commission.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Food is a critical component of our island life. Eating well improves health, well-being, and work productivity. In 1999-2000, the high cost of living and limited availability of adequate employment left one in five of our island residents living in a food insecure household, a household that experienced hunger or was at-risk of hunger because the members of the household did not have enough money for food. Due to Hawaii’s economic downturn and the effects of welfare reform, food insecurity will likely increase in 2002. Food insecurity increases the risk of malnutrition, obesity, diabetes, and contributes to poor mental health, all of which in turn increase health insurance costs. The physical and mental stress stemming from anxiety and an empty stomach lead to problem behaviors in school (thereby increasing funding for special education), low self-esteem, anger, and violence.

To date, neither Hawaii’s state nor local governments have provided the necessary vision, leadership and funding to ensure that no one goes hungry in Hawaii. The food stamp program, the nation’s defense against hunger, helped only twenty-five per cent of food insecure households in Hawaii during 1999—2000, in part because of administrative barriers. Outreach to maximize use of federally-funded food stamp benefits and expand educational programs, are negligible in Hawaii, despite their proven cost-effectiveness. Consequentially, many of Hawaii’s needy rely on charitable food assistance rather than federally funded food assistance programs as a first line of defense to stretch their food supply. Dependence on charitable food assistance, while critical in an emergency, may perpetuate food insecurity without sufficient government policies to assure Hawaii’s population is adequately nourished.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to establish a food security commission to help end hunger in Hawaii.

SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Chapter

food security commission

§ -1 Definitions. As used in this chapter

"Commission" means the food security commission.

"Department" means the department of health.

"Director" means the director of health.

"Food security" means the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.

§ -2 Food security commission. (a) There is established within the department of health a food security commission for administrative purposes as provided in section 26-35. The commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the governor pursuant to section 26-34, representing the retail food industry, the agricultural industry, nonprofit organizations focusing in whole or in part on food and nutrition assistance, health care providers, and educational and community organizations. The director, or the director's designee and the director of human services or the director's designee shall serve as ex officio members.

(b) The chairperson of the commission shall be elected by the majority of the members of the commission.

§ -3 Duties and responsibilities. The commission shall:

(1) Assist with the coordination of federally-funded food and nutrition assistance programs;

(2) Facilitate collaboration between charitable food organizations, food retailers, food producers, and government food and nutrition assistance programs;

(3) Assure accountability through annual local food security monitoring and consolidation of information on federally-funded assistance programs into a biennial report to the legislature;

(4) Provide a clearinghouse of information about food security and food assistance resources and disseminate this information to the appropriate agencies and individuals in need of food security;

(5) Participate in efforts to increase local food production and related planning efforts;

(6) Facilitate funding to accomplish eliminating food insecurity; and

(7) Submit legislation to address food security.

§ -4 Compensation. The member of the food security commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, for the establishment of the food security commission.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________