STAND. COM. REP. NO.  146-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2740

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2740 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish food waste and plant-based alternative meal goals to be met by January 1, 2035, as part of the Department of Education's sustainable schools initiative, and require the Department to include in its annual report to the Legislature certain information on its progress in meeting these goals.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Surfrider Oahu, Climate Protectors Coalition, Kokua Hawaii Foundation, and five individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Meats, LLC; and one individual.

 

Your Committee finds that 35 percent of food in public schools is wasted each day, costing the Department of Education millions of dollars each year.  Safely sharing unused food that would be wasted with those who need it and implementing on-site campus composting programs that students can be involved with will help divert food waste from landfills, save millions of dollars annually, provide students with valuable and engaging learning experiences, and give farmers and communities fresh carbon-sequestering compost.  Additionally, your Committee finds that providing access to healthy plant-based foods in state public schools is an effective way to improve sustainability and student health.  This measure will engage students in sustainable living through learning about food waste management and incorporating plant-based alternatives in their diet.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Permitting, rather than requiring, the Department of Education to establish a goal of meaningfully engaging students and incorporating the sustainable schools initiative elements into curriculum across all public schools;

 

     (2)  Authorizing the Department of Education to work with the Department of Health on procedures for the sharing of excess food, on-site campus composting program, and food waste mitigation;

 

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; 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 Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2740, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2740, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair