STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3081

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1996

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1996, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a two-year agricultural theft pilot project to focus on investigating and prosecuting agricultural theft or agricultural vandalism in the County of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawaii; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Ponoholo Ranch; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; and fifty individuals.

 

     Your Committees find that agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism are a constant worry for farmers and ranchers and 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 where they work.  All of these factors make agricultural operations easy prey for theft or vandalism.

 

     Your Committees further find that agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism have been constant threats especially for farmers and ranchers on the Island of Hawaii, increasing the cost of production and making it more difficult for farming operations to be successful.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Water, Land, and Agriculture and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1996, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Labor and Ways and Means.

 

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

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair