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Committee adds three positions, operating funds to interagency food-systems coordination bill
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Summary
SB1186, to establish an interagency food systems coordination team and working group, advanced with amendments adding three staff positions (food systems specialist, policy analyst, administrative assistant) and operating funds; committee inserted membership clarifications and set estimated personnel and operating costs in committee notes.
The House Committee on Economic Development on Wednesday passed Senate Bill 1186 with amendments to fund staff and operating costs for an interagency food systems coordination team.
Under the committee's amendments, the bill will add three positions: a food systems specialist (costed in committee notes at $120,000), a policy analyst (costed at $100,000) and an administrative assistant (costed at $60,000). The committee also inserted $100,000 in committee notes for operating funds for coordination and the working group. The amended language clarified membership for the interagency working group and replaced several specific subparagraphs with a process for appointing co-chairs who will select five members with relevant experience.
State and nonprofit witnesses including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Oahu RC&D and public-health and farm-to-school advocates testified in support. Witnesses urged stable funding for staff and clear reporting and membership language so the working group can coordinate across agencies and help meet food-system goals such as farm-to-school procurement targets.
In decision-making the committee adopted the chair's recommendation to pass SB1186 with amendments. The committee added positions and funding levels into committee notes and altered working-group membership language to provide flexibility for neighbor-island siting and appointments.
