HB 249 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii child nutrition programs agency within the department of human services (moved from department of education) to maintain independence and prevent preferential treatment during compliance audits and fiscal reviews.

• Creates three permanent full-time equivalent positions: a farm to school coordinator, a Hawaii child nutrition programs accountant, and a farm to school farmer support position.

• Authorizes the agency to administer grants for public schools to purchase minimally processed local foods, acquire equipment for food preparation, fund professional development on nutrition and farm-to-school connections, and increase participation in federal child nutrition programs.

• Limits administrative costs to no more than two percent for grantees and one percent for data collection, outreach, and training by project partners.

• Appropriates unspecified sums from general revenues for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to fund grants and establish the three new positions; effective June 30, 3000.