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SCR 134

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE A DETAILED REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE TRUE COST OF PRODUCING SCHOOL MEALS TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND AVOID UNNECESSARY PRICE INCREASES.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Henry Aquino and 9 co-sponsors

Urge the DOE to provide a detailed, transparent cost report of producing school meals for 2024–27, including breakdowns, meal counts, and recommendations.

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 724).
#departmentofeducation #report #schoolmeals
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Bill Summary · SCR 134

Summary: SCR 134 – Urging a Detailed DOE Report on the True Cost of Producing School Meals

Purpose and Intent

  • SCR 134 is a concurrent resolution urging the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) to provide the Legislature with a detailed, transparent report on the true cost of producing school meals.
  • The aim is to ensure transparency and help avoid unnecessary price increases for school meals, particularly in light of proposed future price changes.

Key Provisions and Requirements

  • The DOE is asked to include in the report:

    • Current cost breakdown to produce school meals for the 2024–2025 school year.
    • Projected cost breakdown for the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 school years.
    • Cost components, including:
    • Costs of ingredients (with an indication of whether each ingredient is locally sourced)
    • Operational costs
    • Beverage costs
    • Material and supply costs
    • Logistical and distribution costs
    • Data on the number of school meals provided for each school year, including:
    • Full-price meals
    • Reduced-price meals
    • Free meals
    • Total meals subject to federal reimbursement
    • Total meals not subject to federal reimbursement
    • The total number of all student meals
    • The total cost of all student meals
    • DOE findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation (if applicable).

  • The report must be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026.

  • Certified copies of SCR 134 must be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education.

Background and Context

  • Hawaii’s DOE operates school meal programs with federal reimbursement (e.g., School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program).
  • There is an established statutory requirement (HRS §302A-405) that monies from the sale of school meals be at least one-half the cost of producing the meals.
  • The bill notes a lack of an itemized cost reporting system within the DOE’s budgeting process and highlights concerns that potential price increases could affect working families and students eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
  • By promoting transparency around production costs, SCR 134 seeks to inform policy decisions and guard against unwarranted price hikes.

Who Is Affected

  • Primary: Department of Education and its school meal programs.
  • Secondary: Hawaii students and families (especially those on free/reduced-price meals) and local suppliers (through the cost and sourcing data).

Procedural Timeline and Status

  • Introduced: March 7, 2025.
  • Transmitted to Senate: April 3, 2025; referred to Education committees (EDU in the Senate and EDN in the House).
  • Committee actions: Favorable reports recommended adoption; passage without amendments noted in several committee steps.
  • Final form/date: Resolution adopted in final form on April 15, 2025.
  • Nature: Concurrent resolution (not a law, but a formal expression of legislative intent and request to the DOE).

Related Legislation

  • Companion bills include HCR 111 and SR 113.

Potential Impact

  • Enhances transparency of school meal production costs.
  • Provides data to inform DOE pricing decisions and policy discussions on school meals and potential price adjustments.
  • May influence budgeting, procurement (including local sourcing), and strategies to address food insecurity.

If you’d like, I can map SCR 134’s provisions to specific DOE budget categories or provide a quick comparison with the current statute (HRS §302A-405) and related nutrition program funding sources.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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