Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2276 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $100,000 for fiscal year 2002-2003 for the food program and administrative and operating expenses of the Maui Food Bank.

Your Committee finds that welfare reform has resulted in many Hawaii families needing additional help from food banks. This situation has been exacerbated by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, in which thousands of workers lost their jobs or suffered a reduction in work hours.

Your Committee agrees with the intent of this measure, and finds that it will ensure that the Food for Families, Mobil Pantry, community distribution programs, and other initiatives will continue to reach those in need and provide barrier-free access to high quality nutritional food on an ongoing, reliable basis.

To facilitate further discussion on the funding necessary to carry out the purposes of this measure, your Committee has amended this bill by replacing the sum appropriated with a blank amount.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2276, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2276, S.D. 1.