CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 171

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 759

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 759, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose 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 in the counties of Hawaii and Maui, including theft and vandalism affecting individuals who are not full-time farmers or ranchers.

Your Committee on Conference finds that agricultural theft and vandalism are recurring problems for farmers and ranchers in the counties of Hawaii and Maui, and agricultural theft and vandalism increase the cost of production and can make it more difficult for farmers and ranchers to be successful. Your Committee on Conference further finds that an existing contract between the Department of Agriculture and the County of Hawaii Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for one agricultural theft and vandalism investigator has been successful thus far, and building upon this project by establishing a two-year agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project for the counties of Hawaii and Maui will continue this successful start and further the State's goal of promoting local food production.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Directing the Department of Agriculture to examine and assess the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural vandalism and the theft of agricultural products produced for commercial use of any scale, rather than only small scale;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $200,000 and appropriating that amount for fiscal year 2019-2020 only;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2019; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 759, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 759, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ CHRIS LEE Co-Chair	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair
____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair