STAND. COM. REP. NO. 458

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 443

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 443 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure require the Department of Education to conduct a comprehensive cost analysis of the Department's food services and student meals program to make recommendations regarding the ways in which the Department can increase the use of locally grown agricultural products and report to the Legislature on its results.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Local Food Coalition, Food+ Policy Internship, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that most children in public schools do not eat the daily recommended allowance of fresh fruits and vegetables or whole grains, and their diets include too many empty calories and high sodium levels. This often occurs because local families cannot afford to feed their children nutritious food. Your Committee further finds that many health issues in children are closely related to lack of nutritious food. Your Committee believes that this measure will assist the Department of Education in identifying fresh, locally grown products to be used in student meals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 443, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 443, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair