STAND. COM. REP. NO. 526-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2771

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2771 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the continued administration of the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program, commonly known as the DA Bux Double Up Food Banks Program, and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services; Department of Agriculture; Department of Health; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Get Fit Kauai, the Healthy Eating, Active Living Coalition; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Farm Link Hawaiʻi; Save Medicaid Hawaii; Indivisible Hawaii Healthcare Team; Adaptations Inc.; Malama Kauaʻi; Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi; Ulupono Initiative; AlohaCare; 350Hawaii.org; The Food Basket; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Local Food Coalition; Pukalani Superette; Hawaiʻi Foodbank; Aloha United Way; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Elepaio Social Services; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Lanakila Pacific; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Oahu Fresh; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that many residents suffer from food insecurity due to the rising cost of living in the State and rely on the benefits provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Initiatives in Hawaii, such as the DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks Program, provide a dollar-for-dollar match to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries who purchase Hawaii grown fruits and vegetables at participating food retailers. This measure supports the efforts of the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program in ensuring that Hawaii's residents have access to food.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $2,000,000.

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. 2771, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2771, 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