STAND. 0CM. REP. NO. I~Ô4_24
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR15 , 2024
RE: S.C.R. No. 164
S.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 S.C.R. No. 164, S.D. 1, entitled:
“SENATE CONCURRENT 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, VANDALISM, AND TRESPASS, IN THE STATE,”
begs leave to report as follows:
(1) Urge 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,
agricultural vandalism, and trespassing; and
(2) Request the Department of Agriculture to:
(A) Examine and assess the effectiveness of prosecuting
agricultural crimes;
(B) Coordinate with the Department of Law Enforcement
and each of the four counties to hire enforcement
officers for each county;
SCR164 SD1 HSCR AGR
 STAND. CON. REP. NO. (14D1P( -24
Page 2
(C) Assess the implementation of the pilot project,
including the pilot project’s effectiveness, to
determine whether to continue, make permanent, or
end the pilot project;
CD) Create additional tools such as a Crimestoppers
Anonymous phone line, an accessible online form for
better reporting, and an Agricultural Crime Task
Force;
(E) Submit an interim report to the Legislature before
the Regular Session of 2025; and
(F) Submit a final report to the Legislature before the
Regular Session of 2026.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Agriculture; Kapapala Ranch; Hawaii
Cattlemen’s Council, Inc.; Hawai’i Farm Bureau; and four
individuals.
Your Committee finds that agricultural crimes, including
theft, vandalism, and trespassing, are a persistent issue
affecting farmers and ranchers in Hawaii, with nearly nineteen
thousand incidents reported in 2019, resulting in approximately
$14,400,000 in losses and security costs. Despite the prevalence
and cost of these crimes, many incidents go unreported, and few
result in convictions, prompting the Legislature to establish a
two—year Agricultural Theft and Vandalism Pilot Project in 2019 to
examine the effectiveness of prosecuting such cases in Hawaii and
Maui counties. Your Committee acknowledges these ongoing
challenges facing local farmers, and this measure works to expand
the pilot project statewide to provide resources to suppress
incidences of agricultural crimes 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 & Food Systems that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of
S.C.R. No. 164, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your
Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
SCR164 SD1 I-{SCR AGR
 STAND. CON. REP. NO.(10t( -24
Page 3
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Agriculture & Rood
Systems,
E GA GATES, hair
SCR164 SD1 HSCR AGR
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-second Legislature fl’s ~.tq ~
Record of Votes of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date: I I
≤~-R.~ l~9 ~ ,t~&.ft, 3i-Ip~ 09)12 /Z021.1
D The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: unamended (as is) C Pass, with amendments (HD) C Hold
C Pass short form bill with HD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
AGR Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. GATES, Cedric Asuega (C)
~
2. KAHALOA, Kirstin (VC)
3.__COCHRAN, Elle
~-
4. LOWEN, Nicole E.
-~
5. PERRUSO, Amy A.
~
6. WOODSON, Justin H.
7. WARD, Gene
TOTAL (7) Lf
The recommendation is: ~“~dopted U Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
committee acronym(s)
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature: ~ ~
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief Clerks Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO