STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3321

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2431

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2431, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the sustainable food systems working group within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development;

(2) Require the working group to submit a plan, any recommendations for implementing the plan, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature;

(3) Appropriate funds to establish the working group and develop the plan; and

(4) Appropriate funds for an unspecified number of sustainability specialist positions to be employed by the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development Statewide Sustainability Branch.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii State Aha Moku, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Food+ Policy Internship 2022, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Down to Earth Organic and Natural, and eight individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and one individual.

Your Committees find that the initiative called "Transforming Hawai‘i's Food Systems Together" seeks to build statewide capacity to develop an integrated food policy framework and food system resilience and equity strategy that is inclusive of Hawaii's indigenous values and producer perspectives. The initiative intends to harness innovation and momentum developed in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, document lessons learned, articulate policy and planning recommendations, and set up the State to expand large-scale institutional purchasing of local food. Establishing a sustainable food systems working group may enhance cross-community relationships across a variety of sectors, including food producers, processors, distributors, retailers, consumers, waste management, academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies.

Your Committees note the testimony from Hawaii State Aha Moku regarding the composition of the working group. As Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners possess valuable knowledge, skills, and experience protecting lands and coastal and ocean areas for continuing sustainable use of island food systems, the Native Hawaiian representatives to the sustainable food systems working group should be knowledgeable in the traditional cultural practices of mahiai and lawaia. As island needs vary across the Hawaiian Islands, the Hawaii State Aha Moku also requests the Native Hawaiian representatives understand the differences in natural and cultural resources that may impact sustainability of food systems.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Expanding the membership of the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group to include a representative of the Hawaii Farmers Union United, a representative of the Hawaii Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, to be selected by the President of the Hawaii Fishermen's Alliance for Conservation and Tradition, and a representative of the commercial fishing sector of the State, to be selected by the Administrator of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2431, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2431, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Water and Land and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair