STAND. COM. REP. NO. 180

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 390

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 390 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) 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; and

(2) Appropriate funds for administration of the program and to provide matching funds to SNAP beneficiaries.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; American Heart Association; Obesity Prevention Task Force; K & R Enterprises; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development; AlohaCare; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Kaho‘omiki, the Hawai‘i Council of Physical Activity and Nutrition; Hawaii Foodbank; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; O‘ahu County Committee of Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; We Are One, Inc.; Humanity's Team; American Diabetes Association; Sierra Club of Hawai‘i; Local Food Coalition; Blue Zone Projects; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Maui Farmers Union United; A‘a Li‘i Farm; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Maui Mobile Marine; Hawaii Farmers Union; Green Wheel Food Hub; Lokoea Farms; Hawai‘i Center for Food Safety; Hawai‘i Community Foundation; and over forty individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees find that consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables are in integral part of a healthy diet and central to the prevention of obesity and chronic disease. Your Committees also find that every community should have access to fresh and healthy dietary options, but the high cost of fresh produce often makes this difficult. This challenge is felt acutely by participants in the federal SNAP, a low-income population that struggles to afford healthy food. Your Committees further find that a double up food program would expand the 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. Your Committees find that 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 Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 390, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 390, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair