STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2098

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2527

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2527 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Education to provide school meals to all public charter schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Native Hawaiian Education Council, Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Hawaii Public Charter School Network, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the federal school meals programs are critical to the health and well-being of students, especially low-income students, and ensures that they have the nutrition they need to learn. Since just over half of the State's students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, these meals can provide nutritional and financial support to low-income and working-class families. While the majority of charter schools provide food service from a variety of sources, including the Department of Education and private vendors, this measure ensures that all students, especially low-income students, at public charter schools will have access to nutritious meals.

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 S.B. No. 2527 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair