Hawaii-2018-HB1883-Amended

PART I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that agricultural theft and vandalism are a constant worry for farmers and ranchers. Given the broad acreage that many farming and ranching operations encompass, it is often difficult for farmers and ranchers 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.

The legislature also finds that the county of Hawaii is known as the breadbasket of the State. However, agricultural theft and 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 and ranching operations to be successful.

The legislature also finds that individuals who are not full-time farmers or ranchers, but who grow food or other agricultural products for their own use or for small-scale sale, may be targets of agricultural product theft and vandalism. This theft and vandalism dispossesses victims of food they have grown, deprives them of a source of income, and reduces their self-sufficiency.

The purpose of this part is to establish a two-year agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project to examine the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural theft and vandalism cases, including theft and vandalism affecting individuals who are not full-time farmers or ranchers, in the county of Hawaii.

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

(1) Establish a two-year agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project to examine and assess the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism cases in the county of Hawaii;

(2) Examine and assess the effectiveness of prosecuting the theft of agricultural products produced for personal or small-scale commercial use on any land, regardless of land classification;

(3) Partner with the county of Hawaii to hire two enforcement officers within the prosecuting attorney's office or any other law enforcement agency; and

(4) Assess the implementation of the pilot project, including the pilot project's effectiveness in:

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

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

(D) Identifying best practices for preventing agricultural theft and 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 and vandalism 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 twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2020.

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 2018-2019 for the purposes of establishing and implementing a two-year agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project, including the hiring of two full-time equivalent enforcement officers (2.0 FTE) for the pilot project.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this part.

PART II

SECTION 4. The legislature finds that the quality of local papaya needs improvement to flourish as an export. While the flavor and texture of local papaya is highly desired, shelf life is too short to export in high quantities. Major factors that may contribute to the poor quality of local papaya include the transportation of the product; treatment for fruit fly control; and handling, shipping, and storage of the product prior to distribution.

The legislature further finds that developing and establishing protocols to enhance the marketability of Hawaiian papayas can help to expand the market. The establishment of a market standard for Hawaiian papayas will encourage good practices when local farmers grow and harvest papaya.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate moneys to the agribusiness development corporation to:

(1) Identify factors that affect the quality of local papayas; and

(2) Develop and establish protocols to enhance the marketability of Hawaiian papayas.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to identity factors that affect the quality of local papayas and to develop and establish protocols to enhance the marketability of Hawaiian papayas.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the agribusiness development corporation for the purposes of this part.

PART III

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1883
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 2