STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1970-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2928

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2928, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support and sustain the progress of the Department of Education's Hawaii Farm to School Program by establishing a three-year Farm to School Grant Pilot Program (Pilot Program) within the Department of Agriculture (DOA). Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes the Pilot Program and requires DOA to collaborate with the Department of Education, Department of Health, public charter schools, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, and other stakeholders to provide grants to:

(A) Public schools;

(B) Publicly-funded early care and education centers;

(C) Nonprofit organizations;

(D) Soil and water conservation districts; and

(E) Farmers, ranchers, and food vendors registered with the Hawaii Farm to School Program;

(2) Requires DOA to adopt rules to implement the Pilot Program;

(3) Requires the Hawaii Farm to School Coordinator to submit a report on the value and outcome of the Pilot Program to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2021; and

(4) Appropriates funds:

(A) For the Pilot Program;

(B) For a full-time Farm to School Coordinator position and administrative expenses for the Hawaii Farm to School Program; and

(C) To assist farmers and ranchers in acquiring good agricultural practices certifications from the United States Department of Agriculture.

The State Public Charter School Commission, State Procurement Office, Kamehameha Schools, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Heritage Ranch, Inc. dba One Island, Birds With Arms Farms, Malama O Puna, Tiny ‘Aina Farm, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Blue Zones Project, Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation, Maui School Garden Network, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., Education Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, American Heart Association, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and many individuals supported this measure. The Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Health, and University of Hawaii offered comments on this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its findings and purpose section; and

(2) 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 S.B. No. 2928, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2928, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair