STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1330

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 695

H.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 695, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FENCES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow for the use of battery-charged security fences used for non-agricultural purposes, under certain circumstances.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Amarok Ultimate Perimeter Security.

Your Committees find that property valued at approximately $85,000,000 was reported stolen in Hawaii in 2022 and that electric fences may deter future attempted thefts. Your Committees further find that farmers and ranchers can also use electric fences to maintain the integrity of their livestock and food crops. Thus, this measure allows for the use of battery-charged security fences used for non-agricultural purposes on agricultural lands under certain conditions.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 695, H.D. 2, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair