STAND. COM. REP. NO. 551

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 515

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 Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 515, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Auditor to conduct an audit of the School Food Services Branch of the Department of Education to determine how much local produce is being purchased and served to students in the Department's school cafeterias.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure supports the use of locally sourced produce in the State's schools by requiring a baseline determination of where produce used by the School Food Services Branch is being purchased and if the produce is locally sourced. By providing these metrics, the Legislature will be better positioned to determine what increases may be warranted and how to set goals that are structured to yield outcomes that are nutritious for students and supportive of local farmers.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 515, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair