STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2418

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2363

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2363 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a two-year pilot project to examine the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural crimes in the City and County of Honolulu and County of Kauai; and

(2) Appropriate $200,000 for the establishment and implementation of the two-year pilot project.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the City and County of Honolulu suffered the highest rates of theft or vandalism of all farms in the State and that the County of Kauai suffered the third highest rates of theft or vandalism of all farms in the State. Your Committee notes that agricultural crimes, including agricultural theft and vandalism, increase the costs of production and decrease the chances for farming and ranching operations to succeed. Your Committee recognizes that the Legislature passed Act 217, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, established a two-year Agricultural Theft and Vandalism Pilot Program to examine the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural theft and vandalism cases in the counties of Hawaii and Maui, including cases of theft and vandalism that affect individuals who are not full-time farmers or ranchers. According to testimony received by your Committee, replication of this pilot program will provide resources to suppress incidences and losses to farmers, ranchers, aquaculturists, and floriculturists in the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2363 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair