STAND. COM. REP. NO. 588

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 247

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 247 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the percentages of local agricultural products that certain state departments and the University of Hawaii System are required to purchase by certain deadlines;

(2) Expand the annual reporting requirements to include total spending by certain market channels;

(3) Require each relevant state department and the University of Hawaii System to include a corrective action plan in its respective report to the Legislature, should it not meet a benchmark; and

(4) Repeal the separate benchmark for the Department of Education that requires thirty percent of food served in public schools to consist of locally sourced products by 2030.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Kanalani Ohana Farm, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Kohana Family Farms, Ulupono Initiative, Food+ Policy, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Education and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Public Safety, and University of Hawaii System are the state entities that purchase some of the greatest amounts of agricultural products. As such, Act 176, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, was enacted to establish benchmarks for these departments to purchase locally grown food. This measure increases those benchmarks established in Act 176 to ensure quality, locally sourced food is being served by these entities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Appropriating an unspecified amount of funds for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent farm-to-state liaison position within the Office of the Governor;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 247, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 247, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair