STAND. COM. REP. NO. 20

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 303

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Housing and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 303 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GARDENS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Department of Education and Hawaii Community Development Authority to develop programs that provide incentives to establish gardens on school campuses and within housing projects and communities.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, University of Hawai‘i System, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, American Heart Association, and four individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui.

Your Committees find that garden programs have the potential to strengthen partnerships between state agencies, improve access to healthy food options, and increase consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables by Hawaii's youth and community members. Your Committees further find that garden programs develop healthy food systems and reinforce positive nutrition behaviors that will reduce the risk for chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some cancers. Currently, eighty percent of grade six through twelve schools in Hawaii have gardens, which promotes integrated learning across educational disciplines. Therefore, your Committees believe that supporting garden programs in schools and housing projects and communities will encourage proper eating habits, support local agriculture, and foster interest in gardening among students and adults alike.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Housing and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 303 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Housing and Education,

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair

________________________________ STANLEY CHANG, Chair