STAND. COM. REP. NO. 439-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2431

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. 2431 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop a plan for a more sustainable, resilient local food economy that enhances and sustains the environmental, economic, and social health of the community.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Foodbank, Hawaii Foodservice Alliance LLC, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership, ‘Ai Pohaku, Art Farm, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and eleven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and Center for Getting Things Started.

Your Committee finds that sustainable food systems work to promote and sustain the environmental, economic, and social health and well-being of individuals and communities. Your Committee recognizes that the convening of key stakeholders across multiple sectors in the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group will support and further efforts to establish a more robust, sustainable, and resilient food system that considers the health, social, and environmental impacts of food production, distribution, and consumption in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Increasing the membership of the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group to include a representative of the Department of Agriculture; four representatives of the agricultural sector, of which each member shall represent one of the counties; and a representative of the Hawaii Food Industry Association;

(2) Extending the deadline for submittal of the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group's plan to the Legislature by one year;

(3) Changing the end date of the Dissolving the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group to December 31, 2023;

(4) Appropriating funds for the purposes of the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group and for one full-time equivalent Sustainability Specialist position in the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Statewide Sustainability Branch;

(5) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2022; and

(6) 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. 2431, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2431, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair