STAND. COM. REP. NO. 546

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 Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1503, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture to establish a two-year agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project to examine the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism in the County of Hawaii.

Specifically, the measure provides parameters and funding to the Department of Agriculture to partner with the County of Hawaii with the goal of prosecuting more agricultural theft cases.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Maui County Council, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Coffee Association, Hawaii Forest Industry Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1503, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair