SB 789: DOE; School Cafeteria Meals; Costs

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii's working families face significant economic challenges, including the rising cost of living, inflationary pressures, and limited affordable options for basic needs.  Access to nutritious meals is essential for students' academic success and overall well-being.  However, the increasing cost of school meals may place an undue burden on families, leading to reduced student participation in school meal programs.

     The legislature further finds that encouraging more students to participate in school meal programs is crucial for promoting equity, ensuring students have access to healthy food, and fostering an environment conducive to learning.  By reducing the financial burden on families, the State can help mitigate the impacts of economic hardship and support the health and academic achievement of Hawaii's keiki.

     The purpose of this Act is to amend the revenue requirement from the sale of school meals from no less than one-half to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals, thereby making school meals more affordable for families and increasing student participation in school meal programs.

     SECTION 2.  Section 302A-405, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  The price for school meals shall be set by the department to ensure that moneys received from the sale of the meals shall be [not less] no more than [one-half] one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals.  The prices for school meals may be adjusted annually based on the previous year's costs rounded to the nearest five cents; provided that the department by rule shall provide a lower rate or free meals to children based on their economic need."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DOE; School Cafeteria Meals; Costs

Description:

Reduces the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 302A-405, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (a) to read:

     "(a)  The price for school meals shall be set by the department to ensure that moneys received from the sale of the meals shall be not less than [one-half] one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals.  The prices for school meals may be adjusted annually based on the previous year's costs rounded to the nearest five cents; provided that the department by rule shall provide a lower rate or free meals to children based on their economic need."

     2.  By amending subsection (c) to read:

     "(c)  It is the intent of this section not to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid and to the extent, and only to the extent necessary to effectuate this intent, the governor may modify the strict provisions of this section, but shall promptly report [any such] the modification with the governor's reasons therefor to the next succeeding session of the legislature for review."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that if the department of education fails to meet the local farm to school meal goal set forth in section 302A‑405.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, this Act shall be repealed on January 1, 2031, and subsections 302A-405(a) and (c), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which they read prior to the effective date of this Act.

Report Title:

DOE; School Cafeteria Meals; Costs

Description:

Requires the Department of Education to charge not less than one-quarter of the cost of preparing a school meal for each school meal.  Effective 7/1/2050.  Repealed 1/1/2031 if DOE fails to meet statutory Local Farm to School Meal goal.  (SD2)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 302A-405, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (a) to read:

     "(a)  The price for school meals shall be set by the department to ensure that moneys received from the sale of the meals shall be not less than [one-half] one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals.  The prices for school meals may be adjusted annually based on the previous year's costs rounded to the nearest five cents; provided that the department by rule shall provide a lower rate or free meals to children based on their economic need."

     2.  By amending subsection (c) to read:

     "(c)  It is the intent of this section not to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid and to the extent, and only to the extent necessary to effectuate this intent, the governor may modify the strict provisions of this section, but shall promptly report [any such] the modification with the governor's reasons therefor to the next succeeding session of the legislature for review."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

DOE; School Cafeteria Meals; Costs

Description:

Requires the Department of Education to charge not less than one-quarter of the cost of preparing a school meal for each school meal.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to school cafeteria meal costs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 302A-405, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-405  School cafeterias; funds; expenditures.  (a)  The price for school meals shall be set by the department [to ensure that moneys received from the sale of the meals shall be not less than one-half of the cost of preparing the meals.  The prices for school meals may be adjusted annually based on the previous year's costs rounded to the nearest five cents]; provided that the department by rule shall provide a lower rate or free meals to children based on their economic need.

     (b)  All moneys received by or for the public school cafeterias from the sale of meals, the sale of services, the federal government, or any other source, shall be deposited in one special school lunch fund.  Except as otherwise provided by the legislature, all expenditures for the operation of public school cafeterias shall be made from this fund.

     (c)  It is the intent of this section not to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid and to the extent, and only to the extent necessary to effectuate this intent, the governor may modify the strict provisions of this section, but shall promptly report [any such] the modification with the governor's reasons therefor to the next succeeding session of the legislature for review."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

School Cafeteria Meal Costs; DOE

Description:

Repeals requirement that Department of Education set school cafeteria meal price at no less than half the cost of meal preparation.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1193

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   S.B. No. 789

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 789, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to charge no less than one-quarter of the cost of preparing a school meal for each school meal, to be repealed if the Department of Education fails to meet the statutorily established Local Farm to School Meal goal.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Healthy Eating, Active Living Coalition; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; Hawaiʻi Foodbank; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; and two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that access to nutritious meals is necessary for students' academic success and overall well-being.  However, the rising cost of school meals places an undue burden on families, leading to decreasing student participation in school meal programs.  This measure will reduce the required meal cost offset collection and increase affordability for school meals in Department of Education schools.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a preamble;

     (2)  Specifying that the price for school meals shall be set by the Department of Education to ensure that monies received from the sale of the meals shall be no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing meals;

     (3)  Deleting language which would have repealed the measure if the Department of Education fails to meet the statutorily established Local Farm to School Meal goal;

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 789, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 789, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 763

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 789

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 789, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce from one-half to one-quarter the proportion that the price of a school meal represents in relation to the cost of preparing the meal.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that reducing the price-to-cost ratio of school meals will allow the Department of Education to meet the statutory local farm to school meal goal without raising the price charged for school meals.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by repealing the measure on January 1, 2031, if the Department of Education fails to meet the local farm to school meal goal under section 302A‑405.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 789, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 789, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 342

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 789

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 789 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to repeal the requirement that the Department of Education set school cafeteria meal prices at no less than half the cost of meal preparation.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Education Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute, and one individual.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that food insecurity impacts students in a myriad of ways, including reduced academic performance and short- and long-term health issues.  For some students, meals provided at Department of Education schools are the only balanced, nutritious meal a student receives in a day.  As meals are more than nutrition for students, providing low-cost meals to students will improve the overall well-being of students while reducing financial strain on families.  Your Committee further finds that with rising food costs statewide, repealing the requirement for families to pay for school meals may not be feasible at this time.  Therefore, reducing the price of school meals may be more financially feasible for the Department of Education to sustain its school meals program while decreasing costs for students.  Accordingly, this measure removes a significant barrier for students whose families have limited incomes while helping the Department of Education to serve healthy, nutritious meals to students.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Restoring existing statutory language that requires the price of school meals set by the Department of Education to be not less than one-half the cost of preparing the meals;

     (2)  Amending the restored language to require the price of a school meal to be not less than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals;

     (3)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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. 789, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 789, 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,