HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-10 Letter to Richard P. Creagan and Lynn DeCoite SB 2282, SD2 Relating to Agriculture
County of Hawai‘i
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County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Roy Takemoto
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
March 10, 2020
Representative Richard P. Creagan, Chair
Representative Lynn DeCoite, Vice Chair
Committee on Agriculture
Dear Chair Creagan, Vice Chair DeCoite, and Committee Members:
RE: SB 2282, SD2 Relating to Agriculture
SB 2282, SD2 does not have a preamble, but its contents reflect the
vulnerabilities agriculture has to theft and vandalism. Our news media have
documented farmers who have gone out of business because of their losses, and the
problem seems to get worse year by year.
The Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney’s office has had an investigator working
on agricultural crimes, and we have received positive comments from the agriculture
community about his work. We therefore believe that a statewide program is warranted,
based on the results achieved on the Big Island. As to whether a new program needs
to be established within the Department of Agriculture, I defer to the wisdom of this
Committee. Especially if the DOA does not welcome having such a new program, a
more efficient and effective approach could be for the Department of Agriculture to
contract with County prosecutors, or for this Legislature to fund county prosecutors
directly.
Whatever your decision, we support the idea of a statewide, state-funded, anti-
theft program, and urge favorable consideration of SB 2282, SD2.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Kim
MAYOR