STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2672

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2928

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2928, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to enhance student education, improve childhood nutrition, and connect students with agriculture.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes a three-year farm to school grant pilot program in the Department of Agriculture;

(2) Appropriates moneys for the pilot program; and

(3) Appropriates moneys to continue the Hawaii farm to school program and coordinator position.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Education; Department of Health; State Procurement Office; University of Hawaii; a Councilmember from the County of Hawaii; Ulupono Initiative; Maui School Garden Network; Hawaii Primary Care Association; American Heart Association; Hawaii State Teachers Association; Hawaii Farm to School Hui; Kokua Hawaii Foundation; Local Food Coalition; Hoomana Pono, LLC; Grow Some Good; Malaai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Kamehameha Schools; Oahu Farm to School Network; and twenty-six concerned individuals.

Your Committee finds that farm to school programs effect positive change for the State in the areas of agriculture, education, and health. Your Committee further finds that farm to school activities support a nutritious food environment in public schools, which are attended by more than eighty-five percent of Hawaii's children and youth.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a new section that appropriates an unspecified sum to assist farmers and ranchers in acquiring Good Agricultural Practices certifications from the United States Department of Agriculture;

(2) Changing the amount appropriated for the farm to school grant pilot program from $1,000,000 to an unspecified sum;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2928, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2928, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair