STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1280-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2387

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Education and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2387, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to develop and sustain a Farm to School Program to, among other things, improve student health, develop an educated agricultural workforce, and expand the relationship between public schools and the agricultural community, by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Education (DOE) to establish a Farm to School Program and designate a Farm to School coordinator to work with the head of the Department of Agriculture's Farm to School Program; and

(2) Appropriating funds for the establishment of two full-time equivalent Farm to School staff positions within the DOE.

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor, DOE, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, State Public Charter School Commission, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, American Heart Association, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Blue Zones Project, Kuamahi Community Education Division of Kamehameha Schools, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Obesity Prevention Task Force, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Oahu Farm to School Network, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., Ka Ohana O Na Pua, HFUU, Local Food Coalition, Maui Farmers Union United, Sierra Club of Hawai‘i, Momilani Farm, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.

Upon consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by authorizing, rather than requiring, the DOE to establish a Farm to School Program.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Agriculture that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2387, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2387, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair