CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 135

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 390

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 390, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INCENTIVES,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture to create a dollar-for-dollar matching program for beneficiaries of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to purchase Hawaii-grown produce.

Your Committee on Conference finds that a double up food program would expand access to healthy foods for low-income residents who are eligible for SNAP benefits and would also provide a financial benefit to local growers by requiring the Department of Agriculture to develop a dollar-for-dollar matching program for SNAP beneficiaries who use their benefits to purchase Hawaii-grown produce. This measure provides a mechanism by which low-income residents can have greater access to locally grown fresh foods and at the same time support local farmers.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the name of the program as the Hawaii healthy food incentive program and making associated conforming amendments;

(2) Changing the dollar-for-dollar match to up to $10 per visit;

(3) Inserting an appropriation amount of $50,000 for the Hawaii healthy food incentive program; and

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2019.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 390, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 390, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Co-Chair	____________________________ RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN Chair
____________________________ NADINE K. NAKAMURA Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Co-Chair
	____________________________ SHARON MORIWAKI Co-Chair