STAND. COM. REP. NO. 554-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2250

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2250 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GARDENS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize:

(1) The Department of Education to develop programs to encourage the development of gardens on school property; and

(2) The Hawaii Community Development Authority to develop programs that provide incentives for the development of gardens in housing projects, communities, and schools.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Community Development Authority, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Hawaii Youth Food Council, Grow Some Good, and five individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committees find that supporting gardening programs in schools, housing projects, and communities will provide interactive, hands-on educational environments for learning about nutrition and obesity prevention while encouraging outdoor recreational opportunities for students and residents.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Broadening the authority of the Hawaii Community Development Authority to develop programs that provide incentives for the development of urban gardening programs by removing specific references to housing projects, communities, and schools;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2250, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2250, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Housing,

____________________________ NADINE K. NAKAMURA, Chair

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair