Bill Text: HI HB2771 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Food Security.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 30-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-03-20 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [HB2771 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB2771-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2771 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is an integral part of building a healthy and thriving local food system for Hawaii. The legislature further finds that between eighty-five and ninety-five per cent of the State's food supply is imported and Hawaii's farmers face significant barriers to growth in local food supply.
The legislature further finds that the State faces an estimated $83,000,000 in annual costs related to food insecurity and hunger. Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and rising inflation, households are facing increasing food costs. Compared to the rest of the nation, households in the State spend the highest percentage of their annual budgets on food.
Additionally, the benefits added to the supplemental nutrition assistance program during the COVID-19 pandemic expired in March 2023. This resulted in a benefits decrease of $200 a month on average for more than eighty thousand supplemental nutrition assistance program households. This means that statewide, Hawaii will see a decrease in benefits of more than $16,000,000 per month. With the loss in food money payments, supplemental nutrition assistance program participants need to rely on the State's other food assistance programs, such as Hawaii's DA BUX double up food bucks program.
The legislature further finds that, through the Gus Schumacher nutrition incentive program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, Hawaii has the opportunity to accelerate the growth of local food production for the State while addressing food insecurity for low-income residents who are eligible for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits. Currently implemented in more than thirty states, the Gus Schumacher nutrition incentive program provides matching federal grant moneys to state programs that incentivize the use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits for the purchase of fresh produce. These federal matching funds increase access to healthy dietary options while also invigorating local economies and addressing food insecurity.
The legislature additionally finds that the Hawaii's DA BUX double up food bucks program began with an initial pilot program in 2012 by Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services on the island of Oahu and The Kohala Center on the island of Hawaii. The enactment of Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, created the Hawaii healthy food incentive program, and in tandem with a federal Gus Schumacher nutrition incentive program grant award, united the double up food bucks programs statewide under one name, DA BUX double up food bucks. This program provides a dollar-for-dollar match to supplemental nutrition assistance program beneficiaries who purchase Hawaii grown fruits and vegetables at participating supplemental nutrition assistance program food retailers. By the end of 2023, the pilot program was available at fifty-nine food retailers across one hundred market sites and pick-up locations, including grocery stores, farmers' markets, community-supported agriculture programs, and other farm direct food hubs. From 2020-2021, the DA BUX double up food bucks program supported four hundred seventy farm producers and eight distributors. Each dollar reimbursed to participating food retailers for their issued discounts on local produce has an economic multiplier of 2.1. This means that each program dollar issued for local produce incentives contributes $2.10 to Hawaii's economy. A $2,000,000 investment by the State in this program would allow for a federal funding match that will contribute at least $12,800,000 to the local economy annually. This result is a triple win for the State because it supports families, farmers, and the local economy. Additional funding will allow the statewide program administrator, led by The Food Basket Inc., Hawaii island's food bank in partnership with the Hawaii Good Food Alliance, to obtain matching federal funds for continued support of the program.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of agriculture for the continued administration of the Hawaii healthy food incentive program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the continued administration of the Hawaii healthy food incentive program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION
3. In
accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and
sections 37‑91 and 37‑93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature
has determined that the appropriations contained in
H.B. No. , will cause the state general fund
expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $
or per cent.
In addition, the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the
general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be further
exceeded by $ or
per cent.
The combined total amount of general fund appropriations contained in
only these two Acts will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for
fiscal year 2024‑2025 to be exceeded by $
or per cent.
The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:
(1) The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and
(2) The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
DOA; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program; Expenditure Ceiling; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds for the continued administration of the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
