STAND. COM. REP. NO. 85

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 1503

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1503 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the constant threat of theft and vandalism for farmers and ranchers in the County of Hawaii, including individuals who grow agricultural products for their own use or for small-scale sale, by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Agriculture to:

(A) Establish a two-year Agricultural Theft and Vandalism Pilot Project (Pilot Project) that includes theft and vandalism affecting individuals who are not full-time farmers or ranchers;

(B) Examine and assess the effectiveness of prosecuting the theft of agricultural products produced for personal or small-scale commercial use on any lands;

(C) Partner with the County of Hawaii to hire two enforcement officers within the prosecuting attorney's office or other law enforcement agency;

(D) Assess the implementation of the Pilot Project, including conviction rates, best practice relating to prevention and prosecution, high occurrence areas, and recommendations for a statewide program; and

(E) Submit a report to the Legislature of its findings and recommendations, including whether the Pilot Project should be continued, expanded, or terminated; and

(2) Appropriating $200,000 for each year of fiscal biennium 2019-2021 for purposes of the Pilot Project, including two enforcement officer positions.

Department of Agriculture, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawai‘i, Hawaii County Research and Development, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers, Maui County Farm Bureau, Young Brothers, LLC, and LavaRock Farm supported this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1503, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1503, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair