STAND. COM. REP. NO.  40-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1988

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1988 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support agricultural workforce development in the State and to provide access to nutritious food for public schools by:

     (1)  Establishing a Hawaii Farm to School Program; and

(2)  Appropriating an unspecified sum for a Farm to School Coordinator position for the Program.

 Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hoa Aina O Makaha, NatureTalks, PLACES, Kokua Hawaii Foundation, Maui School Garden Network, Hawaii Farm to School, School Garden Hui, Farm to Keiki, and numerous individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported the intent of this measure.  Several concerned individuals commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1988 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair