STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1342-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2928

S.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 Education, 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 Hawaii Farm to School Program (Program) by:

(1) Establishing and funding a three-year Farm to School Grant Pilot Program (Pilot Program), within the Department of Agriculture, to provide grants to qualifying entities including Department of Education schools, public funded early care and education centers, soil and water conservation districts, and farmers, ranchers, and food vendors registered with the Program;

(2) Requiring the Hawaii Farm to School Coordinator to report to the Legislature on the value and outcome of the Pilot Program;

(3) Appropriating funds for the Pilot Program;

(4) Appropriating funds to continue the Program by allocating funds for a full-time Farm to School Coordinator position and administrative costs of the Program; and

(5) Appropriating funds to assist farmers and ranchers in acquiring good agricultural practices certification from the United States Department of Agriculture.

State Public Charter School Commission, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Ulupono Initiative, Kamehameha Schools, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Windward Zero Waste Schools, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, American Heart Association, and a concerned individual supported this measure. The Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, and State Procurement Office offered comments.

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. 2928, S.D. 2, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair