STAND. COM. REP. NO.  53-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

RE:   H.B. No. 2156

      H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2156 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to grow and sustain farm to school programs by authorizing the Department of Education (DOE) to establish a farm to school program to be managed by DOE staff and, if the program is established, to require the DOE to work with the Farm to School Coordinator in the Department of Agriculture.  This measure also provides funding for two full-time positions within the DOE to facilitate the program.

The Office of the Governor, Department of Agriculture, DOE, Department of Health, State Public Charter School Commission, University of Hawaii Master Gardener Program, a Hawaii County Council Member, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Papa Ola Lokahi, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Blue Zones Project, David S. De Luz Sr. Enterprises Inc., Kauai Path Inc., Kokua Hawaii Foundation, American Heart Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, West Hawaii Community Health Center, Maui School Garden Network, FoodCorps, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying in the preamble that the DOE is authorized to establish a farm to school program;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2025, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  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. 2156, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2156, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Agriculture.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair