HI SCR66

Requests the Department of Health's Healthy Hawaii Initiative to convene a School Gardens Task Force to determine how to expand school gardens programs statewide.

Task Force must include representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, UH community colleges culinary arts programs, and nine non-profit and educational organizations focused on school gardens and agriculture.

Task Force must report findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the 2012 Regular Session, including any recommendations for legislation and funding.

Addresses childhood obesity and food insecurity in Hawaii, with 28 percent of school-aged children overweight or obese and over 19 percent of residents living in food insecure households.

Recognizes existing successful farm-to-school programs in Hawaii through public-private partnerships that provide educational benefits and promote healthy eating habits among students.