STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2034

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2169

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2169 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD ASSISTANCE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2022-2023 to fund the operation of the food banks in each county of the State that locally administer The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Office of Community Services; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaii Foodbank, Inc.; Maui Food Bank, Inc.; The Food Basket Inc.; AlohaCare; Tiki's Grill & Bar; Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Kaiser Permanente; Chef Point of View Consulting; Hawaii Agricultural Foundation; United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL‑CIO; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center; Hawaii State AFL-CIO; Hawaii Farm Bureau; and fifteen individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Office of Community Services is the state administrator of TEFAP, a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income households by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost.  The Office of Community Services contracts with a food bank for each of the State's four counties, to establish, maintain, and supervise a network of eligible recipient agencies that distribute food received through TEFAP in designated areas of each county.

 

     Your Committee also finds that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic heavily impacted food security levels in Hawaii, increasing the volume of food collectively distributed in Hawaii by the food banks in fiscal year 2020-2021 to 36,500,000 pounds, which is more than double the volume distributed before the pandemic.  Your Committee further finds that more than eighty-two thousand children in the State are projected to struggle with hunger in 2022, placing Hawaii as a state with the second highest rate of child food insecurity in the country.  Your Committee acknowledges that the federal funds and donations that enabled the food banks to meet demands of the State during the height of the pandemic have declined considerably, and without additional funds, the food banks will not be able to continue meeting the food security needs of Hawaii residents.  This measure will appropriate the funds necessary for the food banks to continue meeting the food security needs of the people in Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the written testimony of the Department of Budget and Finance expressing concerns regarding this measure's possible effect on the State's obligation to adhere to the maintenance of effort requirements as a recipient of Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief funds under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Recovery Plan Act of 2021.  Your Committee finds that this issue raises concerns that merit further consideration and respectfully requests that your Committee on Ways and Means further examine those issues and concerns raised by the testimonies on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that of the sum appropriated:

 

          (A)  Five percent shall be allocated to the Office of Community Services to administer the funds pursuant to this measure;

 

          (B)  Ten percent shall be allocated to the food banks in each county as administrative funds, based on the county's share of the State's poverty population set forth in the latest small area income poverty estimates issued by the U.S. Census Bureau (SAIPE formula); and

 

          (C)  The remainder shall be allocated to food banks in each county as food purchase funds using the SAIPE formula; and

 

     (2)  Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2169, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2169, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

 

 

 

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair