STAND. COM. REP. NO.  24

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 255

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 255 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOCALLY GROWN FOOD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to promote locally grown food in communities in Hawaii by:

     (1)  Establishing the Farm to School Grant Program within the Department of Education to provide grants to farmers participating in the Hawaii Farm to School Program under section 141-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

     (2)  Creating the Farm to School Grant Program Special Fund; and

     (3)  Making applicable appropriations.

The Department of Education, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Center for Food Safety, Malama Kauai, and a few concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of the measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by:

     (1)  Establishing a full-time Farm to School Grant Program Coordinator position within the Department of Education to work in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders;

     (2)  Establishing a full-time Farm to School Grant Program Special Fund Manager position within the Department of Education to oversee the Farm to School Grant Program Special Fund and to work in collaboration with appropriate stakeholders;

     (3)  Making unspecified appropriations to fund the Farm to School Grant Program Coordinator and Farm to School Grant Program Special Fund Manager positions;

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2051, to encourage further discussion; and

     (5)  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. 255, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 255, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Agriculture.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair