STAND. COM. REP. NO.  472-22

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2022

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1525

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1525 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROCUREMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to update the reporting requirements for state departments in meeting programmatic goals for the purchase and procurement of locally sourced products.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui; Local Food Coalition; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Grow Some Good; and one individual.  Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from Ulupono Initiative.

 

     Your Committee finds that Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, moved the Hawaii Farm to School Program from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education and established a programmatic goal that at least thirty percent of food served in public schools be locally sourced by 2030.  Your Committee further finds that Act 176, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, established benchmarks for state departments to achieve to ensure that a certain percentage of produce that is purchased by departments is locally grown.  Your Committee believes that additional guidance is needed for state departments regarding the implementation of the departments' purchasing and reporting obligations pursuant to Act 175 and Act 176, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050.

 

     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 H.B. No. 1525, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1525, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair