STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1358

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 759

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 759, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

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.

The Department of Agriculture, Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i, Councilmember representing Upcountry of the Maui County Council, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Coffee Association, and a few individuals supported this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying what the Department of Agriculture shall look at to assess the effectiveness of the pilot project;

(2) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2150; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

Should your Committee on Finance deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it insert an appropriation amount of $200,000.

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 S.B. No. 759, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 759, S.D. 2, 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