STAND. COM. REP. NO. 31-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2774

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. 2774 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a separate timeline and benchmarks for the Department of Education to increase the percentage of local agricultural products purchased by the Department.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony supporting the intent of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Ulupono Initiative; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that supporting local agriculture and strengthening local food systems can improve the resilience of the State's economy, environment, culture, and public health. To provide support for local farmers and guarantee that revenue derived from local produce remains in the State and feeds local people, Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, was enacted, which established a programmatic goal for the Department of Education to provide a minimum of thirty percent locally sourced food in Hawaii public school meals by 2030. In addition, the enactments of Act 176, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, and Act 144, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, established benchmarks ensuring a certain percentage of produce that is purchased by the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Public Safety, Department of Defense, and University of Hawaii System is locally grown.

Your Committee further finds that the existing goals set different standards for various state departments. Specifically, the programmatic goal for the Department of Education to locally source at least thirty percent of food served in public schools by 2030 is higher than other state departments. Your Committee believes that the benchmark goals for certain departments should be assessed on a more frequent basis than the Department of Education. This measure will resolve some of the discrepancies between the locally sourced food benchmarks for the Department of Education and those of other state entities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2774, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2774, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair