STAND. COM. REP. NO. 117

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1179

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Higher Education and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1179 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawai‘i, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, to conduct a feasibility study on the potential for establishing a Farm to School program in Hawaii's public schools.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the University of Hawai‘i System, Department of Education, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation, and seven individuals.  The Department of Agriculture submitted comments.  Copies of written testimony are available for review on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committees find that the Farm to School program is a well established national program.  Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation has piloted efforts to develop this program in the State.  Currently, three schools participate in the Farm to School program:  Aikahi Elementary, Moanalua Elementary, and Hakipuu Learning Center; in addition, Haiku Elementary buys produce from local farmers when it is available.

Your Committees further find that the Farm to School program provides dual benefits to the State: healthy eating options for students and economic opportunities for farmers and ranchers. Both are a good investment in Hawaii's future, and creating a linkage between farms and schools will foster a greater appreciation of the sources of food as well as introducing students to opportunities in agricultural careers.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  In part I, establishing a Farm to School policy in chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

     (2)  In part II, clarifying that the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources will convene a working group of stakeholders to consider the feasibility of establishing a Farm to School program in Hawaii's public schools; and

     (3)  Adding the Department of Education to the working group.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1179, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1179, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair

____________________________ JILL TOKUDA, Chair