STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1104-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: H.B. No. 2670

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2670, H.D. 1, 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 for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries 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 Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Blue Zones Project, Community First, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hawai‘i Public Health Association, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Pioneering Healthier Communities of Honolulu, The Food Basket Inc., Hawaii Island's Food Bank, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Ulupono Initiative, and numerous individuals supported this measure. The Department of Agriculture, American Heart Association, and an individual offered comments for this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount appropriated out of the general revenues from $300,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the amount appropriated out of the farmers' market matching incentive program special fund as matching funds from $300,000 to an unspecified amount;

(3) Changing the dollar-for-dollar match provided to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries to be used for purchases at farmers' markets from $20 to an unspecified amount; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

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 H.B. No. 2670, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2670, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair