STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3153
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 2771
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2771, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The
purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate an unspecified amount of funds
to the Department of Agriculture:
(1) For the continued administration of the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program; and
(2) To provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Your Committees
received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of
Agriculture; Department of Health; Department of Human Services; Office of
Hawaiian Affairs; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; one member of the
Hawaiʻi County
Council; City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability
and Resiliency; Local Food Coalition; Hawaiʻi Hunger
Action Network; Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance; Ulupono Initiative;
Hawaiʻi Public
Health Institute; The Food Basket Inc.; Hawaiʻi Farm
Bureau; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Farmers
Union United; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; Democratic
Party of Hawaiʻi; Green
Party of Hawaiʻi; Chamber
of Commerce Hawaii; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Hawaii Chapter of 350.org;
Zonta Club of Hilo; Hawaii Food Bank, Inc.; Hawaii State AFL-CIO; American
Heart Association; Aloha United Way; Hawaiʻi Alliance
for Progressive Action; Pukalani Superette; Beyond Organic Consulting Inc.;
Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaiʻi
Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hoʻōla
Farms; KYD, Inc.; ABC Stores; Hawaii Pacific Health; Hawaii Medical Service
Association; AlohaCare; Save Medicare Hawaii; Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi; and
sixty-two individuals.
Your Committees find
that every community should have access to fresh and healthy dietary options,
but the high cost of fresh produce and healthy alternatives often makes that
difficult. Your Committees further find
that the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program, now commonly known as the DA
BUX Double Up Program, provides a dollar-for-dollar match to federal
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries who purchase locally
grown fruits, vegetables, and proteins at participating farmers' markets,
grocery stores, and community-supported agriculture projects. Your Committees note that a $3,000,000
investment by the State in DA BUX Double Up Program would allow the statewide
program coordinator, led by The Food Basket Inc., to apply for an additional
$3,000,0000 in matching federal funds, totaling $6,000,000. This measure not only supports the health of
local families and farmers, but also the local economy.
Your Committees have
amended this measure by making
it effective upon its approval.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2771, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2771, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services,
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________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair |
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________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair |
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