STAND. COM. REP. NO. 676

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1287

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1287 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FOOD SERVICES BRANCH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Education food services branch to coordinate with the principals and vice principals of department schools to determine which school meal program offered by the USDA is the best fit for the student body and campus of each school.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that during the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there was an immediate closure of schools operated by the Department of Education.  For many students, this closure had the unfortunate effect of not only missing in-person learning, but also missing the meals provided at school.  The United States Department of Agriculture provided Grab N' Go meals as a supplement for students, but students living in rural areas were often not able to participate in this program due to the far commute or lack of available transportation.  For this reason, many administrators, students, and parents have requested to be part of the Emergency Meals-To-You Program that sends food to students, but the Department of Education Food Services Branch has not allowed participation in this program to certain schools that have already been designated as a Department of Education feeding site.  This measure will mandate coordination between the Food Services Branch and principals and vice principals to provide students at a school with a meal program that works best for their needs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1287 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair