STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2606

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2111

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2111 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 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, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, two members of the Hawaii County Council, and two individuals.

Your Committees find that agricultural theft and vandalism in the County of Hawaii are impediments to not only running a successful and profitable farming operation, but also to growing food or agricultural products for personal or small-scale commercial use. Agricultural theft and vandalism are a serious, ongoing problem, with farmers reporting theft of crops, animals, equipment, and tools, and vandalized fences and gates. Since many incidents of agricultural theft and vandalism are not reported, the annual monetary losses can only be estimated in the millions of dollars. By establishing an agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project for the County of Hawaii, this measure provides additional focus on investigating and prosecuting agricultural theft and vandalism.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2035, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 S.B. No. 2111, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2111, S.D. 1.

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