STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 553-22
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2022
RE: H.B. No. 2304
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 Agriculture and Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2304 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Education for additional resources to implement the Hawaii Farm to School Program, with the funds specifically to be used for internal systems and controls to meet the State's local food goals in school meals.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Local Food Coalition, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Producers Cooperative, Grow Some Good, and seven individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, and one individual.
Your Committees find that the Hawaii Farm to School Program was established in 2015 to improve the health of the State's keiki by encouraging the consumption of fresh, locally grown foods for nutritional content and to promote healthy behaviors at an early age. In 2021, Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021 (Act 175), was enacted, which moved the Hawaii Farm to School Program from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education. Act 175 also established a programmatic goal that by 2030, thirty percent of food served in public schools shall consist of locally sourced products. Your Committees recognize that the Department of Education's implementation of a centralized tracking system is central to the Department of Education's ability to efficiently and effectively track purchases made by schools and implement the Hawaii Farm to School Program. As such, this measure appropriates funds to provide additional resources to the Department of Education to be used specifically to implement internal systems and controls to implement the Hawaii Farm to School Program.
Your Committees have amended this measure by:
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committees note that $1,600,000 is necessary for the initial cost, and $350,000 is necessary for annual costs, of the Hawaii Farm to School Program.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2304, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2304, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |
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____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair |
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