STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1630-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 135

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.C.R. No. 135 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP AND ADD FARM TO SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION STANDARDS TO THE ANNUAL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL EVALUATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to develop farm to school implementation standards and add the standards to the annual school principal evaluations.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Farm to School Program was established in 2015 to transition the State's school food systems toward locally grown food for the benefit of students, small businesses, local farmers, and the environment. Your Committee further finds that principals and school administration play a key role in the implementation of farm to school programs. Your Committee believes that adding farm to school implementation standards to the annual school principal evaluations will improve student access to fresh, local foods in public school food programs.

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 H.C.R. No. 135 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair