STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1725
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2021
RE: S.C.R. No. 38
S.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2021
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 38, S.D. 1, entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAI‘I STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES BRANCH TO ADOPT AN ADDENDUM TO ITS AGREEMENTS FOR THE ‘AINA PONO HAWAI‘I STATE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM REQUIRING THE PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND/OR SERVICES FROM FOOD HUBS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The
purpose of this measure is to urge the
Department of Education School Food Services Branch to adopt an addendum to its
agreements for the ‘Aina Pono Hawaii State Farm To School Program to require the
procurement of goods and services from food hubs.
Your
Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of
Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Research and Development of the County of
Hawaii, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Public Health Institute, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in support
of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education.
Your Committee finds that Act 218, Session
Laws of Hawaii 2015, established a farm to school program within the
Department of Agriculture to address the issues of supply, demand, procurement,
and consumption of Hawaii-grown foods in state facilities, primarily education
facilities, and take reasonable steps to incorporate more agriculture and
nutrition education in schools. Your
Committee further finds that the Department of Education and Office of the
Lieutenant Governor rebranded the farm to school program as the ‘Aina Pono Hawaii State Farm to School program in 2018 to unite
the Department of Education School Food Services Branch's existing health and
nutrition education programs, such as ‘Aina Pono Harvest of the Month, test
kitchens, meal programs, menu planning, and school gardens.
Your Committee additionally finds that
farmers in Hawaii face many obstacles on their way to achieving economic
sustainability. Your Committee notes
that food hubs provide these small to mid‑sized farmers and producers with
facilities for aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and marketing
support. This measure seeks to increase
the procurement of goods and services from local food hubs by the Department of
Education for schools.
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. 38, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |
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