STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1069-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 594

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 594, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds to the Department of Education to implement a School Meal Subsidy Program for income-eligible public school students who do not otherwise qualify for a free lunch under the free and reduced price lunch program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program for schools that provides daily low-cost or free meals to children from households making a certain income. However, the Department of Education estimates that up to fifteen thousand children each year from gap groups do not qualify for the National School Lunch Program. This measure will provide equal access to food services for students and ensures that all public school students are provided school meals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2051.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 594, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 594, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair