STAND. COM. REP. NO. 78

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1385

       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 Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1385 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require the Department of Education to develop a reorganization plan to provide students and schools with centralized food and transportation services; and 

 

     (2)  Require the provision of locally produced food to increase in an unspecified percentage annually for five years.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education and Ulupono Initiative.

 

     Your Committee finds that currently, the overall program management and service delivery of public school food and transportation services are, for the most part, centralized.  Reorganization to provide further centralization in both areas could lead to additional efficiencies and service improvements.  Your Committee further finds that the implementation of centralized kitchens may also assist in increasing the procurement of foods directly from local farmers.  Centralized kitchens will allow farmers to deliver food directly to one site for multiple schools within that area as opposed to having many delivery points across the islands, easing the burden of the farmers.  Centralizing food services may therefore increase local farmer participation in bid solicitations and help to further the farm-to-school program's aim of increasing the procurement of local produce and food as contemplated.  This measure will improve food and transportation services in schools and better provide healthy and locally grown food to students.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the reorganization plan is to provide student and schools with centralized transportation services, not food services;

 

     (2)  Specifying that the department of education is to develop a plan to provide students with locally produced food and that locally produced food that is purchased for school meals shall increase by five per cent annually until 2026;

 

     (3)  Specifying that the report to the Legislature shall include food service delivery models customized to the needs of schools broken down by complex area;

 

     (4)  Specifying that the report shall include information on how reorganization will look for efficiencies by reducing food waste, increasing school meal participation, and promoting a healthy menu; and

 

     (5)  Specifying that the report shall also include projected cost-savings and increased student benefits such as healthier diets and increased nutrition knowledge.

 

     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. 1385, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1385, 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,

 

 

 

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair