STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1218

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 763

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 763, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish an Agricultural Enforcement Program within the Department of Law Enforcement;

(2) Establish the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund; and

(3) Appropriate funds for and establish positions within the Agricultural Enforcement Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement; Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Ulupalakua Ranch; Ponoholo Ranch; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that agricultural crimes, including theft, vandalism, and trespassing, pose substantial financial and safety risks for Hawaii's farmers and ranchers. Due to the remote locations of agricultural lands, law enforcement response times are often delayed, leading to underreported crimes and, in some cases, dangerous confrontations. To improve enforcement and deterrence, this measure establishes an Agricultural Enforcement Program within the Department of Law Enforcement to specifically address crimes affecting the agricultural sector and ensure the sustainability of Hawaii's farming industry.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the statutory reference to the offenses that involve the theft of an agricultural product or commodity under the responsibilities of state law enforcement officers in the Agricultural Enforcement Program;

(2) Designating the Department of Agriculture, rather than the Board of Agriculture, as the entity to make certain determinations related to expenditures from the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 763, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 763, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair