Report Title:

Agricultural Theft; Laws and Enforcement (SD1)

WHEREAS, there is a serious problem of theft of agricultural products costing millions of dollars in losses to producers each year; and

WHEREAS, the remote and rural location of farming operations often makes theft detection and apprehension difficult; and

WHEREAS, producers are taking steps to protect their property from theft; and

WHEREAS, the county police and prosecutor's office may not be aware of the severity of the on-going agricultural theft problem statewide; and

WHEREAS, there appears to be a lack of communication and understanding between agricultural producers, and the county law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys which results in situations where thieves are not pursued, investigations are not conducted, and prosecution is not initiated; and

WHEREAS, the agricultural industry needs to coordinate efforts with the county law enforcement agencies and prosecuting attorneys to resolve the agricultural theft problem; and

WHEREAS, existing agricultural theft laws need to be examined to determine if any adjustments are necessary; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the existing agricultural theft laws, there may be other enforcement issues that need to be addressed to enable more aggressive efforts to apprehend and prosecute agricultural thieves; and

WHEREAS, communication between the farming community and county police departments and prosecutors needs to take place to resolve these issues; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, that the President of the Senate shall convene a legislative agricultural theft committee to assess and review existing agricultural theft laws and enforcement issues that hamper the arrest and conviction of persons caught or suspected of agricultural theft; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the membership of the committee shall include the following:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall obtain input from:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall submit a report on its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior the convening of the Regular Session of 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture, Attorney General, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, each respective county Mayor, each respective county Prosecuting Attorney, and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.