SB 1250 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture during declared states of emergency to provide food to residents experiencing food insecurity.

• Creates the Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program Special Fund to receive appropriated moneys, legislative appropriations, gifts, donations, grants, and accrued interest for emergency food distribution.

• Requires food banks receiving program moneys to purchase, store, and transport food grown or produced in Hawaii for free distribution to recipients during emergencies.

• Exempts the special fund from central service assessment fees under sections 36-27, 36-30, and 37-53, and prohibits moneys from lapsing to the general fund.

• Appropriates unspecified amounts from the general fund to the special fund for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, with funds to be expended by the Department of Agriculture; effective July 1, 2050.