STAND. COM. REP. NO.  518

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 478

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 478, H.D. 1, 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 increase access to fresh produce by Hawaii's schoolchildren by authorizing all schools to grow food in school gardens for consumption in a school meals program under specified conditions.  This measure also permits nonprofit organizations to establish and administer a fresh food distribution service if a school requests such a service.

The Hawaii Educational Policy Center, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Hawaii Association of Independent Schools supported the intent of this bill.  The Department of Education opposed this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and The Kohala Center provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an unspecified appropriation for the establishment and support of school gardens and the use of food grown in those gardens for consumption in school meals programs; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for consistency.

     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. 478, 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. 478, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair