STAND. COM. REP. NO. 463

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 767

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. 767, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support the Hawaii Farm to School Program by moving the program from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education and establishing a programmatic goal that at least thirty percent of food served in public schools be locally sourced by 2030.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Blue Zones Project, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Local Food Coalition, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Food+ Policy Internship, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Pono Hawai‘i Initiative, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, and Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Cooperative. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that farm-to-school programs support a nutritious school food environment that encourages students to make healthier choices. Your Committee further finds that setting a target goal of providing a fixed minimum percentage of locally sourced food in public schools can bring the farm to school program closer to achieving tangible results for the health of Hawaii's students.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2051; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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. 767, 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. 767, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair