STAND. COM. REP. NO. 677

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 308

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. 308 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group within the Department of Agriculture to develop an Interagency Food Systems Plan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawai‘i Foodbank, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, Kanalani Ohana Farm, Kohana Family Farms, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, and fifteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Attorney General, and Ulupono Initiative.

Your Committee finds that developing a more sustainable food system for Hawaii represents an opportunity to create a new food economy that integrates the objectives of "green" job creation, sustainable economic development, land stewardship, food security, environmental protection, and climate change resiliency with community health and well-being.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Modifying the membership of the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group, including by:

(A) Adding a representative of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, to be selected by the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

(B) Adding the Food Access Coordinators of the City and County of Honolulu and the counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai; and

(C) Adding four farmers, with each farmer representing one of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, or the City and County of Honolulu, to be selected by the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture;

(2) Requiring the Interagency Food Systems Plan to incorporate the county food access plans;

(3) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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. 308, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 308, 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