STAND. COM. REP. NO. 346-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2670

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 Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2670 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure adequate access to healthy dietary options, especially among the most needy, by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Agriculture to develop and administer a farmers' market matching incentive program that promotes the purchase of Hawaii-grown fruits and vegetables for beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; and

(2) Appropriating funds for the program.

The Maui Food Bank, Blue Zones Project-Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Association, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Oahu Economic Development Board, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, The Food Basket Inc., Hawaii Island's Food Bank, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Pacific Health, Blue Zones Project–Koolaupoko, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Agriculture, Department of Human Services, and Department of Health testified in support of the intent of this measure.

While your Committee notes that a few proponents of this measure suggested that it be amended to be more consistent with its companion measure, Senate Bill 2398, your Committee did not choose to make such amendments so as to avoid a re-referral of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to facilitate further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2670, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2670, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair