HI HB1584

Establishes a two-year agricultural crime pilot project to examine the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural theft and vandalism cases in Honolulu and Kauai counties.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to partner with both counties to hire one full-time enforcement officer each to be placed within the respective prosecuting attorney's office or law enforcement agency.

Directs the department to assess the pilot project's effectiveness in identifying convictions, developing best practices for prosecution, improving reporting mechanisms, identifying high-crime areas, and making recommendations for a statewide agricultural crime program.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to submit reports to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2025 and 2026 legislative sessions with findings and recommendations.

Appropriates $200,000 from the general revenues for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish and implement the agricultural crime pilot project, effective July 1, 2024.