STAND. COM. REP. NO. 795

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 702, H.D. 2, 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 facilitate the increase of locally grown and raised food products from Hawaii farmers, ranchers, and food producers and allow school complexes to regionalize their menus by requiring the Department of Education to establish 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 agricultural products.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawai‘i Primary Care Association; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Kanaeokana; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaii Meats, LLC; Malama Kaua‘i; Local Food Coalition; Ulupono Initiative; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; FoodCorps Hawai‘i; Blue Zones Project; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progress Action; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; and twelve individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Agriculture.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 702, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair