STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2539

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2421

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2421 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INCENTIVES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate an unspecified amount of funds for the:

(1) Continued administration of the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program; and

(2) Provision of matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Health;, Department of Human Services; City and County of Honolulu's Office of Economic Revitalization, Hawaii Medical Service Association; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Primary Care Association; AARP Hawaiʻi; Volcano Precious Plastic LLC; Farm Link Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Food Bank, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, Zonta Club of Hilo; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Pacific Gateway Center; Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance; Pele Lani Farm LLC; Aloha United Way, Inc.; Hawaii Food+ Policy; Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi; Malama Kauai; The Food Basket Inc.; Balanced Hawaii Eats, LLC; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaii Chapter of 350.org; Hoʻōla Farms; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; AlohaCare; Kōkua Kalihi Valley (Comprehensive Family Services); Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Adaptations Inc.; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Big Tree Farm LLC; Indivisible Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network; Local Food Coalition; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Save Medicare Hawaii; and seventy-nine individuals.

Your Committees find that every community should have access to fresh and healthy dietary options, but the high cost of fresh produce and healthy alternatives often makes that difficult. Your Committees further find that the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program, now commonly known as the DA BUX Double Up Program, provides a dollar-for-dollar match to federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries who purchase locally grown fruits, vegetables, and proteins at participating farmers' markets, grocery stores, and community-supported agriculture projects. Your Committees note that a $3,000,000 investment by the State in DA BUX Double Up Program would allow the statewide program coordinator, led by The Food Basket Inc., to apply for an additional $3,000,0000 in matching federal funds, totaling $6,000,000. This measure not only supports the health of local families and farmers, but also the local economy.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2421 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair