STAND. COM. REP. NO.  718

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 1380

      H.D. 3

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1380, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII-GROWN PRODUCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to encourage the use of local produce in Hawaii schools by:

     (1)  Establishing the Farm-to-School program in the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to increase procurement of locally-grown fruits and vegetables;

     (2)  Establishing the Hawaii-grown Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in the Department of Education (DOE) to facilitate the consumption of locally-produced nutritious snacks to improve student health and expand the market for locally-grown produce; and

     (3)  Authorizing schools to grow food in school gardens for consumption in schools and as part of the Hawaii-grown Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

     This bill also requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish the Farmers to Food Banks Pilot Program to contract with local farmers to provide Hawaii-grown produce to low-income individuals through designated food banks.

     DOE, Hawaii Educational Policy Center, American Cancer Society, and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  DHS, DOA, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and the American Heart Association submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Allowing, rather than requiring:

          (A)  The Farm-to-School Program to meet certain objectives;

          (B)  The Hawaii-grown Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to carry out certain duties;

          (C)  Food from school gardens to be food safety certified by DOA;

          (D)  School garden programs to educate students about organic and conventional growing methods;

          (E)  DOE to establish the Farmers to Food Banks Pilot Program; and

          (F)  The Farmers to Food Banks Pilot Program to operate in select pilot site communities statewide;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1380, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1380, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair