STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2224
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2891
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 Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2891 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, Hawai‘i ‘Ulu Producers Cooperative, Hawaii Food Hub Hui, Center for Getting Things Started, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Ka Ohana O Na Pua, and Hawaii Farmers Union United.
Your Committee finds that the Department of Education serves over one hundred thousand nutritionally balanced, affordable meals each day to over eighty-five percent of the youth in Hawaii. Your Committee also finds that the Aina Pono Hawaii State Farm to School Program has immense potential to improve students' health and academic performance by providing fresh and nutritional foods each day.
Your Committee further finds, however, that additional support infrastructure is necessary for the Aina Pono Hawaii State Farm to School Program to realize its full potential. Your Committee also finds that food hubs provide facilities and infrastructure that aggregate, process, and distribute farm products to consumers. These hubs can serve as a critical link between farmer and consumer.
Accordingly, your Committee finds that this measure will encourage the continued success of the Aina Pono Hawaii State Farm to School Program by requiring a study of the inclusion of food hubs in the procurement strategy for the Aina Pono Hawaii State Farm to School Program.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and
(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
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. 2891, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2891, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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________________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair |
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