Report Title:
Food Security Commission; Hunger Free Hawaii; special Fund
Description:
Establishes a food security commission to target hunger issues in Hawaii. Established a special fund.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2435 |
|
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. The high cost of living and limited availability of adequate employment leave about 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.
There is a need for government 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. 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. Outreach to maximize use of federally-funded food stamp benefits and expand educational programs, are negligible in Hawaii, despite their proven cost-effectiveness. Dependence on charitable food assistance, while critical in an emergency, may perpetuate food insecurity.
The State of Hawaii affirms its commitment to ending hunger and food insecurity in Hawaii. To this end, it is creating a Hawaii food security commission.
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 business, economic development and tourism, state office of planning.
"Director" means the director of the state office of planning.
"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 state office of planning a food security commission for administrative purposes as provided in section 26-35. The commission shall consist of eleven members appointed by the governor pursuant to section 26-34 in the following manner:
(1) One member from the retail food industry;
(2) One member from a food warehouse;
(3) Two members from charitable food providers;
(4) One member from hunger and research organization;
(5) One member from a charitable food transport;
(6) One member from charitable food communication;
(7) Three members from a federally funded programs; and
(8) One member from an early childhood association.
The director, director of health, director of human services, director of agriculture, superintendent of education, and the dean of the college of tropical agriculture and human services or their designees 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;
(7) Submit legislation to address food security; and
(8) Manage the food security commission special fund.
§ -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.
§ -5 Food security commission special fund. There is established in the state treasury the food security commission special fund, into which shall be deposited:
(1) Appropriations made by the legislature to the fund; and
(2) Any contributions by private entities.
§ -6 Biennial report. The food security commission shall report biennially to the legislature no later that twenty days prior to the convening of session."
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, to be paid into the food security commission special fund.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the food security commission special fund of Hawaii the sum of $1, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, for the food security commission.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development and tourism for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |