Bill Text: HI SCR130 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 130 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: School Farm Complex Task Force

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-13 - Referred to HRE/AGL, WAM. [SCR130 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-SCR130-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	130
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the university of hawaii, college of tropical agriculture and human resources to establish a task force to determine the FEASIBILITY of implementing a school farm complex pilot project at the university of hawaii - west oahu campus.

WHEREAS, rising obesity rates and the limited number of healthy food alternatives prompt the need for healthier living; and

WHEREAS, it is in the public's interest to support agricultural self-sustainability by producing locally grown products, providing healthier food choices, and educating our youth on efficient and sustainable agricultural practices; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's unique climate and cultural history make it an ideal setting for the fostering of healthy agricultural practices; and

WHEREAS, a school farm complex is a bona fide farming enterprise that includes classroom facilities and educational curriculum with groups of students from area schools utilizing the complex's classroom and experiential components on a rotational basis; and

WHEREAS, currently, there is no program in Hawaii's schools that has the facilities and educational curriculum to provide agricultural and educational opportunities for those interested in agricultural self-sustainability; and

WHEREAS, the integration of farmers and students will promote healthy living and provide students with the necessary information to make healthy and informed choices, which will lead to a healthier society; and

WHEREAS, having an agricultural program that allows farmers and students to collaboratively develop and practice ideal farming methods as well as allow farmers to share their innovative knowledge of agriculture will ensure the existence of local farms and produce and also further the goals of Hawaii's long term agricultural sustainability plans by generating and perpetuating interest in farming and agriculture among school children; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the House of Representatives concurring, that the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is requested to establish a school farm complex task force to explore the feasibility of establishing a school farm complex pilot project at the University of Hawaii - West Oahu Campus; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the school farm complex task force shall consist of the following members or their respective designees:

(1) The Dean of the University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, to serve as the co-chair of the task force;

(2) The Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at the University of Hawaii - West Oahu, to serve as the co-chair of the task force;

(3) The Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture;

(4) The Superintendent of Education;

(5) The Director of Health; and

(6) The Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following representatives be selected and invited by the co-chairs of the task force to join the task force:

(1) A representative of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation;

(2) A member of the agriculture industry who represents small-scale operation farmers;

(3) A member of the agriculture industry who represents medium-scale operation farmers;

(4) A member of the agriculture industry who represents large-scale operation farmers;

(5) Representatives from nonprofit and community agriculture and education organizations; and

(6) A member who represents farmers' markets; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the school farm complex task force is requested to:

(1) Develop recommendations and strategies to facilitate the successful implementation of a school farm complex pilot project;

(2) Identify any type of barrier that prevents or hinders a school farm complex pilot project from being established;

(3) Identify any type of barrier that prevents or hinders schools or other entities from participating in school farm complex projects that teach children and the public about the concepts of food production and consumption, the value of an accessible supply of locally grown food, the interrelationships between nutrition, food choices, obesity, health, and agricultural enterprise "best practices";

(4) Address implementation barriers that may include the following issues:

(A) Transportation;

(B) Storage;

(D) Contracting; and

(E) Food certification, food safety, and health; and

(5) Investigate the status and availability of local, state, federal, and any other resources that may be used to further the mission and recommendations of the task force and eliminate the barriers that prevent or hinder the establishment of a school farm complex; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit to the Legislature, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2016, a report on its findings and recommendations, including an implementation plan and proposed legislation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be dissolved on June 30, 2016; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Dean of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs of the University of Hawaii - West Oahu, the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, the Superintendent of Education, the Director of Health, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and the President of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.