STAND. COM. REP. NO.  125

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 478

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 478 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to teach good agricultural practices and provide safe healthy foods at schools by:

     (1)  Authorizing the growing of food in school gardens for the school meals program;

     (2)  Requiring that the food used in meal programs be inspected and certified as safe by the Department of Agriculture; and

     (3)  Authorizing schools to permit nonprofit organizations to establish and administer fresh food distribution services.

Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, The Kohala Center and one individual testified in support of this measure.  Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported the intent of this measure but had concerns about the safety of the food grown in school gardens.  The Department of Agriculture submitted comments on this measure.  The Department of Education opposed this measure.   

     In response to health concerns and potential liability for the Department of Education, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Limiting the liability of the Department of Education when fresh foods grown in the school garden are incorporated into a school's meals program and comply with sanitation and hygiene standards; and

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 478, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 478, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Education.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair