STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1267-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2398

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 Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2398, S.D. 2, 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 increase access to healthy food for beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Agriculture to develop and administer a Local Health Food Incentive Program that provides additional funds for the purchase of fruits and vegetables by beneficiaries; and

(2) Establishes and appropriates moneys for the Local Health Food Incentive Program Special Fund for administration of the Local Health Food Incentive Program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries.

The Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, American Heart Association, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice, Pioneering Healthier Communities of Honolulu, Blue Zones Project, Kulahaven Farms LLC, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, The Food Basket Inc., Hawai‘i Islands Food Bank, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Kamehameha Schools, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, and many concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting new language to permit healthcare providers, non-profits, businesses, and faith based organizations to provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applications to prospective applicants and maintain a record of the distribution of applications; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity and consistency.

Your Committee notes that it received testimony requesting that your Committee amend this measure by:

(1) Requiring that the Department of Agriculture establish a minimum $20 per month incentive amount under the Local Health Food Incentive Program;

(2) Authorizing the Department of Agriculture to consult with governmental organizations in addition to private organizations in making rules for the Incentive Program; and

(3) Clarifying that Incentive Program benefits may be used at other SNAP-participating food retailers at the discretion of the Department of Agriculture.

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 S.B. No. 2398, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2398, S.D. 2, 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