HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

823

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL THEFT.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism is a constant worry for farmers and ranchers.  Given the broad acreage that many farming operations encompass, it is often difficult for farmers to police their entire operations at all times.  Furthermore, vigilance at night after work hours may be challenging because not all farmers and ranchers are able to live on or near the fields that they work.  All of these factors make agricultural operations easy prey for theft and vandalism.

     The legislature also finds that the county of Hawaii is known as the breadbasket of the State.  However, agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism have been a constant threat for farmers and ranchers on the island, increasing the cost of production and making it more difficult for farming operations to be successful.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish a two-year agricultural theft pilot project to work with the county of Hawaii to hire an enforcement officer within the county of Hawaii to focus on investigating and prosecuting agricultural theft. 

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of agriculture shall:

     (1)  Establish a two-year agricultural theft pilot project to focus on investigating and prosecuting agricultural theft; 

     (2)  Partner with the county of Hawaii to hire an enforcement officer within the prosecuting attorney's office; 

     (3)  No later than January 1, 2017, assess the implementation of the pilot project including the pilot project's effectiveness for:

         (A)  Identifying the number of convictions for agricultural theft or agricultural vandalism;

         (B)  Identifying best practices for prosecuting perpetrators of agricultural theft or agricultural vandalism;

         (C)  Identifying areas where agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism are most prevalent;

         (D)  Identifying best practices for preventing agricultural theft or agricultural vandalism; and

         (E)  Making recommendations for a statewide program to address agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism.

     (b)  Based on the department of agriculture's assessment of the agricultural theft pilot project, the department shall determine whether to continue, expand, or end the pilot project.

     (c)  The department of agriculture shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than December 31, 2016.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $200,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the purposes of establishing a two-year agricultural theft pilot project.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2015.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Agricultural Theft Pilot Project

 

Description:

Establishes a two-year agricultural theft pilot project to investigate the effectiveness of a dedicated enforcement officer focused specifically on prosecuting agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism in the county of Hawaii.

 

 

 

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