HB2059 HD1 HSCR32-02

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO.32-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2059

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2059 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FOOD SECURITY COMMISSION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to establish the Food Security Commission (Commission) to help alleviate hunger in Hawaii and to appropriate funds for the Commission. The Commission's responsibilities would include:

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

(2) Facilitating collaboration between various food-related organizations and programs;

(3) Providing a biennial report to the Legislature;

(4) Providing and disseminating information about food security and food assistance resources;

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

(6) Facilitating funding to eliminate food insecurity; and

(7) Submitting legislation to address food security.

Aloha Harvest and a nutrition consultant supported the intent of this measure. The Department of Human Services and Full Plate, Inc., submitted comments.

Your Committees find that food insecurity affects many households that are not eligible for federal assistance programs. Estimates show that one of every five Hawaii residents lived in a food insecure household in 1999-2000, and that high-risk areas exist throughout the State. Your Committees believe that this measure is a good first step to ending hunger and food insecurity in Hawaii.

Your Committees have amended this bill by deleting its substance and inserting the substance of a similar bill, S.B. No. 2435. As amended, the bill:

(1) Places the Commission within the Office of Planning instead of the Department of Health;

(2) Increases the number of Commission members to 17 and is more specific in describing the organizations that should be represented in the Commission;

(3) Establishes the Food Security Commission Special Fund (Special Fund); and

(4) Appropriates funds for the Special Fund.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2059, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2059, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Housing and Health,

 

____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair		____________________________ MICHAEL P. KAHIKINA, Chair