CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 140-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2182

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2182, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

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 on Conference finds that learning gardens and farms on school campuses across Hawaii promote student health, advance academic achievement, and strengthen social and emotional well-being. Your Committee on Conference further finds that establishing a School Garden Coordinator position is necessary to successfully implement the Hawaii Farm to School Program. Accordingly, this measure benefits students statewide, helps develop a robust agricultural workforce, and accelerates garden and farm-based education opportunities by establishing a School Garden Coordinator position within the Department of Education.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $200,000; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2182, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2182, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON Co-Chair	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Chair
____________________________ STACELYNN K. M. ELI Co-Chair	____________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO Co-Chair