STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1669

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 423

      S.D. 1

      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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 423, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit public schools from denying a student a meal solely for failure to pay.  This prohibition applies for a specified number of days while the student's application for free or reduced lunch is being processed or when a student's meal fund account reaches a zero or negative balance.  This measure also requires the Department of Education to submit a report to the Legislature on the issue of students being denied a meal solely for failure to pay.

Hawaii Children's Action Network and two concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 423, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair