STAND. COM. REP. NO.  463

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.B. No. 627

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 627, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to create a Hawaii Farm to School Program in the Department of Agriculture and to provide funding for a Farm to School Coordinator position in each of the Departments of Agriculture and Education to work collaboratively in overseeing the Program.  

The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, two members of the Kauai County Council, The Hawaii State Teachers Association, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Farm to School and School Garden Hui, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Green Growth, Hawaii Public Health Institute, The Kohala Center, PAN North America, and a number of concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and Department of Education supported the intent of this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs submitted comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 627, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair