STAND. COM. REP. NO. 234

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1250

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1250 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY FOOD MANAGEMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Hawaii emergency food assistance program and special fund to be administered by the Department of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, AlohaCare, Ulupono Initiative LLC, Hawaii Food+ Policy Internship 2021, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Food Bank, and five individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Budget and Finance.

 

     Your Committee finds that during times of economic crisis or other emergencies, like the economic and health crises arising from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent government mandated shutdowns, the number of Hawaii residents who experience food in security increase dramatically.  Local charitable food organizations are critical parts of the food safety net during times of crises and the fallout from natural disasters and similar crisis place insurmountable pressure on these organizations, who must respond to increased demands on limited budgets.  Charitable food operations not only ensure that families in need have access to enough food to sustain their households, but also operate as an economic stimulus by purchasing food directly from local Hawaii food businesses.  Thus, your Committee finds that there is a need to connect community feeding and local food production to emergency funding solutions.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the reference to county mayors from the preamble, since a state agency cannot be activated for emergency response until a state of emergency is declared by the Governor; 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 Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1250, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1250, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

 

 

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair