STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2163

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 107

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 107 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING A STATEWIDE PROGRAM TO ADDRESS AGRICULTURAL THEFT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Agriculture submit a report to the Legislature prior to the 2020 Regular Session that identifies the best practices and makes recommendations regarding a statewide program to address agricultural theft and vandalism.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii County Council, O‘ahu County Democrats Legislative Priorities Committee, and one individual. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Office of Planning.

Your Committees find that agricultural theft and vandalism are constant threats for state farmers and ranchers because the large acreages that many farming and ranching operations encompass are difficult to police. Your Committees also find that some farmers and ranchers do not live on or near the fields where they work, making the operations challenging to monitor after-hours. Your Committees further find that theft and vandalism increase production costs, making it more difficult for farmers and ranchers to succeed financially.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the request for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to make recommendations and submit a report to the Legislature and only requesting the Department of Agriculture to do so;

(2) Amending its title; 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 Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 107, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 107, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair