STAND. COM. REP. NO. 468-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2013

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. 2013 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL GARDENS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and fund a School Garden Coordinator Position within the Department of Education's Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design to provide technical support and startup resources for schools interested in starting a school garden program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Health, Local Food Coalition, Center for Getting Things Started, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Farm to Keiki, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, O‘ahu Farm to School Network, Hawaii Food Youth Council, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Grow Some Good, Mala‘ai, and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Agriculture. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the increased use of learning gardens and farms on school campuses across Hawaii plays a central role in protecting student health, advancing academic achievement, and strengthening social and emotional well-being. Your Committee further finds that the establishment of a School Garden Coordinator position is vital to successfully implement the purpose of the Hawaii Farm to School Program, as set forth in Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, which aims to improve student health, develop an educated agricultural workforce, and accelerate garden and farm-based education for public school students.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2013, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2013, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair