STAND. COM. REP. NO. 99-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1864

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1864 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the ability of school food programs to serve students fresh, locally grown foods by authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriating funds for school cafeteria upgrades and appropriating funds for cafeteria staff training.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Adaptations Inc., Center for Getting Things Started, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Grow Some Good, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Producers Cooperative, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that school food programs serve an essential function in providing meals to students and improving the health of Hawaii's students through nutritious and fresh, locally grown foods. Your Committee recognizes that implementing farm-to school programs requires investment in school cafeteria facilities and cafeteria staff training.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; 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 Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1864, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1864, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Education.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair