HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-18 Letter to Chris Lee and Joy A. San Buenaventura SB 759, SD2, HD1 Relating to Agriculture
County of Hawai‘i
Office of the Mayor
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County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
March 18, 2019
Representative Chris Lee, Chair
Representative Joy A. San Buenaventura, Vice Chair
Committee on Judiciary
Dear Chair Lee, Vice Chair San Buenaventura, and Committee Members:
RE: SB 759, SD2, HD1 Relating to Agriculture (Agriculture Theft)
Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of SB 759, SD2, HD1.
For about a year, our 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. The
preamble of this bill does a good job of explaining the vulnerabilities agriculture has to theft and vandalism, and
our news media has documented farmers who have gone out of business because of their losses.
In order to continue the program, state funding is both desirable and appropriate. I hope you will act
favorably on SB 759, SD2, HD1, and consider increasing funding to accommodate the proposed expansion of
the program to Maui.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Kim
MAYOR