STAND. COM. REP. NO. 995

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 759

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 759, S.D. 1, 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 in the Counties of Hawai‘i and Maui, including theft and vandalism affecting individuals who are not full-time farmers or ranchers.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor, one member of the Maui County Council, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Center for Food Safety, Maui County Farm Bureau, and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau.

Your Committees find that agricultural theft and vandalism are a constant worry for farmers and ranchers in the State. Given the sparse population and broad acreage that many farming and ranching operations in the State encompass, it is often difficult for farmers and ranchers to police their entire operations at all times. Such theft and vandalism has resulted in an increased cost of production and made it more difficult for farming and ranching operations to be successful.

Your Committees further find that the Department of Agriculture entered into a two-year contract with the County of Hawai‘i Prosecutor's Office for an investigator to conduct agricultural theft and vandalism investigations. This has been a productive project that includes performing investigations and outreach with farmers, law enforcement, and farmers' markets. Your Committees believe that this program should be expanded on Hawai‘i island and initiated in Maui.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of March 15, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 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. 759, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 759, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair