STAND. COM. REP. NO.  59

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 767

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 767 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to support the Hawaii Farm to School Program by moving the program from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education and establishing a programmatic goal that at least thirty percent of food served in public schools be locally sourced by 2030.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Center for Getting Things Started; FoodCorps Hawaii; Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaii Meats, LLC; Civil Impact LLC; Ulupono Initiative; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Blue Zones Project; Greenhouse Island Coffee; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Hawaii Farm Bureau; God's Country Waimanalo; Hawaii Cattleman's Council, Inc.; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and one individual.  

 

     Your Committee finds that a key reason for the creation of the Hawaii Farm To School Program in 2015 was to improve the health of the State's keiki by encouraging the consumption of fresh, locally grown foods, both for their nutritional content and to promote healthy behaviors at an early age.  Your Committee further finds that the Farm to School Coordinator position in this measure has existed at the Department of Education since 2018.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; 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 Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 767, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 767, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Education.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair