STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1354-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.R. No. 141

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.R. No. 141 entitled:

"HOUSE 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 no written testimony for this measure. 

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.R. No. 141, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 141, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair