STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1311-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2182

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2182, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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 received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Health, Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Center for Getting Things Started, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Local Food Coalition, Food+ Policy Internship, Hawai‘i Youth Food Council, Grow Some Good, Hawaii Food Industry Association, O‘ahu Farm to School Networks, and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the increased use of learning gardens and farms on school campuses across Hawaii plays a central role in protecting student health, advancing academic achievement, and strengthening social and emotional well-being. Your Committee further finds that establishing a School Garden Coordinator position is vital to successfully implement the purpose of the Hawaii Farm to School Program, as set forth in Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, which seeks to improve student health, develop an educated agricultural workforce, and accelerate garden and farm-based education for public school students.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2051.

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

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair