STAND. COM. REP. NO. 891

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1251

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1251, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the farm to school meals goals for the State's public school system.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes the farm to school program within the Department of Education to require the Department of Education to work with the Department of Agriculture to ensure that:

(A) By 2025, fifteen percent of the food served in public schools is locally sourced with fresh local agricultural products, in accordance with the Department of Agriculture's farm to school program; and

(B) By 2030, thirty percent of the food served in public schools is locally sourced with fresh local agricultural products, in accordance with the Department of Agriculture's farm to school program;

(2) Expanding the farm to school program established within the Department of Agriculture to require the Department of Agriculture to work with the Department of Education to ensure that:

(A) By 2025, locally sourced products comprise fifteen percent of all food served in public schools; and

(B) By 2030, locally sourced products comprise thirty percent of all food served in public schools; and

(3) Requiring the Department of Education to submit to the Legislature an annual report containing information relevant to the Department of Education's farm to school program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, 350Hawaii, Aina Momona, Americans for Democratic Action, Blue Zones Project, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Food+ Policy Internship, Hawaii SEED, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Public Health Institute's Hawaii Farm to School Hui and Obesity Prevention Task Force, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, Kauai Climate Action Coalition, Local Food Coalition, Malama Kauai, Our Revolution Hawaii, PlanIt Environmental Vision and Branding, Ulupono Initiative, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that increasing the amount of locally sourced fresh agricultural products consumed in the State's public schools will ensure that the State's public school students have access to fresh and nutritious foods while also supporting the State's agriculture industry.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the metrics for measuring the Department of Education and Department of Agriculture's farm to school meal goals;

(2) Codifying in statute, rather than session law, the Department of Education's annual reporting requirements regarding the Department of Education's farm-to-school program; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1251, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1251, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair