STAND. COM. REP. NO. 883

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 763

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 763, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address and prevent agricultural crimes.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes and appropriates moneys for the Agricultural Enforcement Program within the Department of Law Enforcement; and

(2) Establishes and appropriates moneys into and out of the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Law Enforcement, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Food + Policy, Ulupalakua Ranch, McCandless Land and Cattle Co. LLC, and four individuals.

Your Committees received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that the program established and funded by this measure will help facilitate interagency cooperation and create a comprehensive approach to the prevention and investigation of agricultural crimes.

Your Committees have amended this measure to make the placement of the program consistent with the placement of the Narcotics Enforcement Division within the Department of Law Enforcement organizational chart by clarifying that the Administrator of the Agricultural Enforcement Program shall be subject to the direction of the Deputy Director for Law Enforcement.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 763, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 763, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair