Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2147 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish nutrition standards for food and beverages sold to students in public and private schools.

This measure also establishes a school nutrition advisory council.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Castle Medical Center, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools (HAIS), and three individuals. Testimony in opposition was received from the Department of Education (DOE), National Soft Drink Association, and Hawaii Food Industry Association. Comments were received from the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Hawaii and the Pepsi Bottling Group.

Your Committees find that childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate; doubling in children and tripling in teens over the last two decades. This puts children at increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, resulting in increased medical expenses in the future. Your Committees further find that a contributing factor to this obesity epidemic is low-nutrition foods and beverages that are sold in the vending machines at Hawaii's schools.

Your Committees also find that attempts to improve nutrition at schools alone are not the answer. Increased required physical activity in school programs is also part of the solution. Your Committees respectfully request the Committee on Education to consider other measures that would accomplish this goal.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(2) Removing all references to sale of food;

(3) Adding high schools; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

Your Committees note that deleting private, independent schools from this measure was at the request of HAIS. Despite concerns of members of your Committees for the health and well-being of all students in public and private schools, the measure was amended to be respectful of the HAIS' request to continue being independent of DOE's oversight.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2147, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2147, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Education.