STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 136-22
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2022
RE: H.B. No. 1568
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 Government Reform, to which was referred H.B. No. 1568 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
(1) Apply only to the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Public Safety, and University of Hawaii System; and
(2) Require each department and the University of Hawaii System to annually report to the Legislature on its progress toward meeting the benchmarks.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Primary Care Association; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Coffee Association; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Public Safety and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Food+ Policy Internship, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, and one individual.
Your Committee finds that the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Public Safety, and University of Hawaii System are the state entities that purchase some of the greatest amounts of agricultural products. Your Committee recognizes that the Department of Defense is also a state entity that purchases a large amount of agricultural products through the Youth Challenge Academy. In fiscal year 2021, the total meal cost for the Department of Defense was around $630,000. Your Committee believes it is appropriate to also include the Department of Defense in the requirements to meet the local food purchasing benchmarks and submit reports.
Your Committee notes that the University of Hawaii purchases a large amount of produce for its offered meal services and programs. Your Committee specifically notes that the intent of this measure is not meant to capture staff meals that are separate from the University's offered meal services and programs.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Including the Department of Defense among the state agencies required to ensure that a certain percentage of food purchases consist of fresh local agricultural products or local value-added, processed, agricultural, or food products;
(2) Amending Section 1 of Act 176, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021 (Act 176), to:
(A) Include information about the Department of Defense and the spending for its Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy;
(B) Amend the purpose of Act 176; and
(B) Clarify that the intent of Act 176 is not meant to capture other staff meals separate from the University of Hawaii's offered meal services or programs; and
(3) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Government Reform that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1568, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1568, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Government Reform,
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____________________________ ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair |
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