STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1355-24
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2024
RE: H.C.R. No. 162
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 162 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ESTABLISH A TWO-YEAR AGRICULTURAL CRIME PILOT PROJECT TO EXAMINE AND ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROSECUTING AGRICULTURAL CRIME CASES, INCLUDING THOSE OF AGRICULTURAL THEFT AND AGRICULTURAL VANDALISM, IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU AND COUNTY OF KAUAI,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this
measure is to urge the Department of Agriculture to:
(1) Establish a
two-year Agricultural Crime Pilot Project to examine and assess the
effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural crimes and crime cases in certain
counties in the State;
(2) Coordinate with the Department of Law
Enforcement, the City and City and County of Honolulu and County of Kauai to
hire an enforcement officer for each county;
(3) Assess the implementation of the pilot project
to determine whether to continue, expand, or end the pilot project; and
(4) Submit an interim report and final report to
the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025 and the
Regular Session of 2026, respectively.
Your Committee received testimony in support
of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and one individual.
Your Committee finds that agricultural crimes
such as theft and vandalism are a persistent and significant issue effecting
farmers and ranchers in the State. Your Committee further finds that
agricultural crimes increase agricultural costs of production, making it more difficult
for local agricultural operations to sustainably produce food. This measure
asks the Department of Agriculture to establish a two-year Agricultural Crime
Pilot Project, monitor the pilot project’s effectiveness and longevity
prospects, and hire a full-time enforcement officer to be placed within the
respective county prosecuting attorney’s office or any other law enforcement
agency.
Your
Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Adding language to include the County of Maui
in the Agricultural Crime Pilot Program; and
(2) Updating the title to reflect the amended
change.
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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 162, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 162, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,
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____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair |
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