STAND. COM. REP. NO. 286-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1775

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1775 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 to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in a Department school beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; North Shore Nutrition; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; IATSE Local 665; AlohaCare; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaiʻi Public Health Association; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi; Parents for Public Schools of Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that student success demands a nourished body. Without a proper meal, students may face cases of chronic hunger, leading to poor performance in school. This measure will provide universal free school breakfasts and lunches to all students to ensure each student's wellness through receiving at least two meals in school.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Directing the appropriation amount to the Department of Education's School Food Services Branch for the total plate costs associated with providing universal free school breakfasts and lunches in Department of Education schools as required by this measure after federal funding has been accounted; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1775, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1775, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair