STAND. COM. REP. NO.  373

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 255

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 255, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a Farm to School Grant Program within the Department of Education and a supporting Farm to School Grant Program Special Fund to assist farmers in meeting state and federal food safety standards and to make participation in the state Farm to School Program economically feasible for both farmers and schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Pana‘ewa Hawaiian Home Lands Community Association, Hawaii Island School Garden Network, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Upcountry Sustainability, GMO Free Kaua‘i, American Diabetes Association, and numerous individuals.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting unspecified appropriation amounts; and

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

     Your Committee respectfully requests that your Committee on Finance, should it further deliberate on this measure, consider including a means to allow state correctional facilities to participate in the farm to school program.

     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. 255, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 255, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair