STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3438

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1883

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1883, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a two-year agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project to examine the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural theft and vandalism cases, including theft and vandalism affecting individuals who produce agricultural products for personal or small-scale commercial use on any land, in the County of Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, and O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.

Your Committees find that agricultural theft and vandalism are a constant worry for farmers and ranchers. Because farming and ranching activities are spread over a considerable amount of land, it is difficult for farmers, ranchers, and law enforcement to regulate access to agricultural land or enforce laws and exclusive rights on that property, especially at night after work hours. Individuals who are not full-time farmers or ranchers but who grow food or other agricultural products for their own use or for small-scale sale are also frequently at risk during work hours when they are unable to be present at their home or garden. These difficulties put farmers, ranchers, and many other individuals at risk for acts of agricultural theft and vandalism. This measure will establish a two-year pilot project to examine the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural theft and vandalism cases in order to gain a better understanding of the steps that can be taken to better protect farmers, ranchers, and individuals who maintain small-scale gardens and other agricultural activities.

Your Committees additionally find that further developing agricultural products in Hawaii is beneficial to improving the food self-sufficiency of the State. Increasing the ability of Hawaiian produce to enter markets outside the State will also improve local economies. Local papaya, particularly, has a flavor and texture that is highly desired, but a shelf life that is too short to export in high quantities. Many of the factors that contribute to the short shelf-life of local papaya, such as transportation of the product; treatment for fruit fly control; and handling, shipping, and storage of the product prior to distribution, could potentially be improved to increase the viability of local papaya in export markets.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting legislative findings relating to the quality of locally-grown papayas;

(2) Inserting an appropriation for a blank amount to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to identify factors that affect the quality of local papayas and to develop and establish protocols to enhance the marketability of Hawaiian papayas; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1883, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1883, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair