STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3119

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2025

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2025, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RESOURCE RECOVERY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Education to issue grants to establish a composting grant pilot project in Department of Education schools;

(2) Authorize the Department of Education to establish the composting grant pilot project working group; and

(3) Appropriate funds to establish and implement the composting grant pilot project.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, University of Hawai‘i System, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation, Ulupono Initiative, Windward Zero Waste Schools, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and several individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committees find that the Department of Education produces a large amount of rubbish and waste from two hundred sixty-five schools across the State, which significantly impacts the State's environment, waste resources, and finances. However, on-site campus composting programs involving students have been extremely successful in providing a beneficial method of waste diversion.

Your Committees further find that a demonstration project on the effectiveness of on-site campus composting allows students to see the relationships between food waste, composting, nutrient cycling, healthy soils, and local food production. Furthermore, developing a statewide model for on-site campus composting provides a way to reach the Aloha+ Challenge waste reduction goals, increase local food production, and promote natural resource management.

Your Committees have amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

Your Committees note that the Department of Education, rather than the Department of Agriculture, is a more appropriate entity to oversee the composting grant pilot project and request that your Committee on Ways and Means consider this issue should it choose to hear this measure.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2025, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2025, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair