STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1106

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 540

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 540, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education and public charter schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawai‘i Food+ Policy, Malama Kaua‘i, Obesity Prevention Task Force of the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Kohana Family Farms, AlohaCare, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawai‘i Hunger Action Network, Hawai‘i Foodbank, Good Food Movement, and sixteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Department of the Attorney General, State Public Charter School Commission, and Hawai‘i Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 540, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair