STAND. COM. REP. NO. 419

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 564

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Agriculture and Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 564 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII-GROWN PRODUCE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish a farm-to-school program in the Department of Agriculture; and

 

     (2)  Establish a task force within the Department of Agriculture to examine the feasibility of establishing school gardens and creating a Hawaii-grown fresh fruit and vegetable program and to advise the Department of Agriculture in the creation and implementation of the farm-to-school program.   

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science, Kohala Center, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, Kauai School Garden Network, Hui O Malama Aina, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Organic Farming Association, and two individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committees find that a statewide agricultural strategic plan for a farm-to-school program will improve student engagement in agriculture and food sustainability.  After discussion, however, your Committees concluded that a working group is needed to evaluate how locally-grown produce can be utilized by all state agencies, not just the Department of Education.

 

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting language to:

 

     (1)  Establish a locally-grown produce working group until June 30, 2015, within the Department of Agriculture to develop the parameters of and implement a demonstration model in which a state facility utilizes locally-grown produce for consumption and to advise the Department of Agriculture on the feasibility of implementing the demonstration model at other state facilities; and

 

     (2)  Make an appropriation to the Department of Agriculture to develop and implement the working group's demonstration model to utilize locally-grown produce at a state facility.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 564, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 564, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Education,

 

____________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair

 

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair