HI SB759

Establishes a two-year agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project to examine prosecution effectiveness in Hawaii and Maui counties, covering theft and vandalism of agricultural products on any land type for personal or commercial use.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to hire one full-time equivalent enforcement officer for each participating county to be placed within the prosecuting attorney's office or other law enforcement agency.

Department must assess the pilot project's effectiveness in convictions, best practices for prosecution, coordination between law enforcement and judiciary, public reporting mechanisms, theft hotspots, and prevention strategies.

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

Appropriates $200,000 from general revenues for fiscal year 2019-2020 to establish and implement the pilot project; takes effect July 1, 2019.