CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 68

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 244

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 244, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD DONATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Expand liability protections for donors to include donations of perishable or nonperishable food, farm produce, and similar donations made to needy persons by charitable, religious, or nonprofit organizations; and

(2) Authorize the donation of expired food when the good-faith donor or distributor reasonably believes the food is fit for human consumption.

Your Committee on Conference finds that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has severely threatened the health, welfare, and food security of Hawaii residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has further increased the need to expand and clarify existing law to support food donation programs. Despite this high level of food insecurity, Hawaii businesses and residents discard excessive amounts of food waste in the State, which can overload landfills and create harmful greenhouse gases. Therefore, this measure establishes a standard of liability protection for food donations to encourage the donation of food, remove unnecessary barriers, and reduce food insecurity.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 244, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 244, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ AARON LING JOHANSON Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
	____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Co-Chair
	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Co-Chair