Bill Text: HI HB314 | 2023 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Food Banks.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-04-28 - Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-28-23 4:30PM in conference room 309. [HB314 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2023-HB314-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
314 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO FOOD BANKS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that food security in Hawaii is a significant challenge for many individuals and families. Currently, one in six Hawaii residents faces food insecurity, including nearly one in four children. More than eighty-two thousand children in the State will struggle with hunger this year, and Hawaii is projected to have the second highest rate of child food insecurity in the nation.
The legislature further finds that Hawaii's food banks and their partners ensure that those who are food insecure do not go hungry by:
(1) Sourcing food through donations, purchases, and federal programs including the emergency food assistance program of the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture;
(2) Inspecting donated food and following the highest standards of food safety and strict standards of food distribution and recordkeeping; and
(3) Distributing food to those in need through a network of food pantries, community programs, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and other eligible recipient agencies across the State.
The legislature additionally finds that food insecurity levels remain elevated after the COVID-19 pandemic. During fiscal year 2020-2021, the four food banks operated by the emergency food assistance program and their partner network collectively distributed 16,500,000 pounds of food, or more than twice as much food distributed prior to the pandemic. In fiscal year 2021-2022, these food banks and their partner network distributed more than twenty-seven million pounds of food, representing more than a sixty per cent increase from pre-pandemic distribution levels.
Food banks and their partners provide a critical safety net in response to ongoing food insecurity caused by natural disasters, economic pressures, and the high cost of living in Hawaii. Rising inflation rates have driven up food prices twenty-five per cent in three years, and Hawaii's food banks have simultaneously experienced growing demand and decreased purchasing power. The federal emergency food assistance program administered by the office of community services provides food banks and their partners with critical resources for purchasing food and distributing it to those in need, combatting hunger on a daily basis across the State.
The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to supplement the emergency food assistance program to ensure that Hawaii's food banks and their partners can continue to meet the ongoing food security needs of the people of Hawaii.
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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to fund the purchase, storage, and transportation costs of food for distribution to those in need; provided that no more than fifteen per cent of the appropriation may be used for administrative costs; provided further that the funds shall be distributed using the emergency food assistance program's methodology to determine the allocation to each of the four counties.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of community services of the department of labor and industrial relations for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 30, 3000.
Report Title:
Food Banks; Emergency Food Assistance Program; USDA; Office of Community Services; DLIR; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds to the office of community services for the purchase, storage, and transportation costs of food for distribution to those in need in accordance with the emergency food assistance program's methodology to determine allocations to each of the four counties. Effective 7/30/3000. (HD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
