STAND. COM. REP. NO. 462

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 702

H.D. 2

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. 702, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FARM TO SCHOOL PROCUREMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to adopt rules for the procurement of goods and services related to the administration of food programs at public schools that incorporate a geographic preference for unprocessed locally grown and locally raised food products.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Blue Zones Project, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Local Food Coalition, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Food+ Policy Internship, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Healthy Eating Active Living, Obesity Prevention Task Force, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Pono Hawai‘i Initiative, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that building farm to school connections can improve student access to healthy, local foods, provide numerous public health benefits, and contribute to the local agricultural industry. Your Committee further finds that procuring local food provides a long-term revenue stream for farmers and other food producers, promotes market diversification, and increases income and economic growth opportunities for individual farmers. Your Committee believes the proposed geographic preference provided by this measure will provide the flexibility that will help increase the purchase of more locally-grown agricultural products.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2051; 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. 702, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 702, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair