STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3334

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 180

S.D. 1

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.C.R. No. 180 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REEXAMINE THE MENU SCHEDULES FOR SCHOOL MEALS TO GIVE LOCAL PRODUCE SUPPLIERS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE IN EACH MEAL, IN KEEPING WITH UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STANDARDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Education to reexamine the menu schedules for school meals to give local produce suppliers the ability to provide locally grown produce in each meal, in keeping with United States Department of Agriculture standards.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and Ulupono Initiative.

Your Committee finds that as a large purchaser of food products, the Department of Education can make a significant impact on the local economy by purchasing produce from local farms. While creating menus for school meals with specific food items that schools must all produce is beneficial when ordering food in bulk, if the specific product is not produced or manufactured in Hawaii in sufficient and available quantities or, through competitive bids, the costs of a locally produced food are significantly higher, the Department of Education purchases the food from mainland providers. Allowing flexibility in school menus that meet United States Department of Agriculture standards will further promote purchasing from and supporting local farms, while providing schoolchildren with healthy meals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that acknowledges the work of former Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui in convening the Hawaii Farm to School Advisory Group to develop a pathway toward bringing fresh, local food to schools statewide; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 180, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 180, S.D. 1.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair