STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1044-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2083

H.D. 3

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2083, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Education to establish a recognition program to incentivize schools to submit to the Department a plan for the school to reach the local farm to school meal goal of thirty percent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030; and

(2) Require the Department of Education to establish a Plant-Based Meal Pilot Program at Mililani High School to provide a plant-based meal as an option under the school meals program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Climate Future Forum; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Down to Earth Organic and Natural; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaiʻi Youth Food Council; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Education; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; 350Hawaii.org; Kauaʻi Climate Action Coalition; Greenpeace Hawaii; and three individuals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing, rather than requiring, the Department of Education to:

(A) Establish guidelines for the farms to school meals rewards recognition program; and

(B) Establish a Plant-Based Meal Pilot Program at Mililani High School; and

(2) 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2083, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2083, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair