STAND. COM. REP. NO.  693-24

 

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2771, H.D. 1, 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 Bucks Program, and 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 Health; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Office of Economic Revitalization of the City and County of Honolulu; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; We Are One, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network; 350Hawaii.org; Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Aloha United Way; Save Medicaid Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Foodbank; Maui Hub; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hana Farmers Market; Pukalani Superette; Hawaii Farmers Union United Hana Chapter; The Food Basket, Hawaiʻi Island's Food Bank; North Shore Nutrition; Hualani Farms; Nene's Living Food; American Heart Association; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Hoʻōla Farms; AlohaCare; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Cigar; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Local Food Coalition; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Lanakila Pacific; Farm Link Hawaiʻi; Hawaii State AFL-CIO; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Makaʻalae Farms LLC; Suisan; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services; Department of Agriculture; and Ulupono Initiative.

 

     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. 2771, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair