STAND. COM. REP. NO.  463

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

RE:   H.B. No. 1380

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1380, H.D. 1, 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 a farm-to-school program in the Department of Education (DOE) to increase procurement of locally-grown fruits and vegetables;

     (2)  Establishing the Hawaii-grown fresh fruit and vegetable program in 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.

     This bill also requires the Department of Human Services to establish a pilot program to contract with local farmers to provide Hawaii-grown produce to low-income individuals through designated food banks.

     The Secondary Student Conference 2008; Sierra Club-Hawaii Chapter; American Cancer Society; and many concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition, Maui Cattlemen's Association, and a concerned individual supported this measure with amendments.  The Department of Agriculture (DOA), Hawaii Association of Independent Schools, and several concerned individuals supported the intent of this bill.  DOE provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Placing the Farm-to-School Program in DOA rather than DOE;

     (2)  Inserting an unspecified appropriation to be expended by DOE for the Hawaii-grown Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program;

     (3)  Requiring that food from school gardens used for consumption must be food safety certified by DOA; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1380, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1380, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair