HB 1503 Summary

• Establishes a two-year agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project in Hawaii County to examine the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural theft and vandalism cases, including those affecting small-scale growers and personal-use farmers.

• Requires the Department of Agriculture to partner with Hawaii County to hire enforcement officers and assess prosecution effectiveness, identify high-crime areas, determine best practices for prevention and prosecution, and make recommendations for a statewide program.

• Appropriates $200,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020 and $200,000 for fiscal year 2020-2021 to fund the pilot project, including hiring of 2.0 full-time equivalent enforcement officers.

• Requires the Department of Agriculture to submit reports to the legislature no later than twenty days before the regular sessions of 2020 and 2021 with findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation.

• Takes effect on July 1, 2019.