STAND. COM. REP. NO.  311-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2132

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2132 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STUDENT MEALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Prohibit the denial of a meal for a student under the school meals program:

          (A)  Within the first thirty days of a semester while the student's application for free or reduced lunch is being processed, or

          (B)  Within one week following the student's meal fund account reaching a zero or negative balance; and

     (2)  Authorizing the Department of Education to adopt rules or policies on the collection of funds for negative student meal balances.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, and AFL-CIO; and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Department of Education supported the intent of this measure.  

     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. 2132 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair