STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1512

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 134

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 134 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE A DETAILED REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE TRUE COST OF PRODUCING SCHOOL MEALS TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND AVOID UNNECESSARY PRICE INCREASES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Education to provide a detailed report to the Legislature on the true cost of producing school meals to ensure transparency and avoid unnecessary price increases.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education has a statutory mandate to ensure that funds received from the sale of school meals are at least one-half the cost of preparing the meals. While costs associated with food service have increased in the last decade, there are no codified reporting procedures for the Department of Education to report costs. Without accurate data, students and families are unable to ascertain the justification for increases to meal costs, which negatively impact students who receive free or reduced-price meals. Encouraging the Department of Education to establish proper reporting processes will enable transparency, effective communication, and fiscal responsibility for meal preparation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 134 and recommends its adoption.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair