STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2683

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2426

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2426 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to ensure that students are provided with adequate nutrition during the school day. 

Specifically, the measure prohibits public schools from denying a student a meal solely for failure to pay under certain limited situations related to the processing of an application for free or reduced lunch or the initial period of a deficient meal fund account balance.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and the LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. 

     Your Committee finds that cases of chronic hunger can lead to achievement gaps, concentration loss, illness, increased absenteeism, behavioral problems, depression, and misdiagnosed learning disabilities.  Your Committee also finds that the provision of a nutritious meal helps to ensure that needy students are well-fed and ready to learn.  Thus, your Committee believes that this measure will prevent students from unnecessarily being denied free or reduced meals at school due to pending eligibility or accounting issues.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2426 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair