URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ESTABLISH A TWO-YEAR AGRICULTURAL CRIME PILOT PROJECT TO EXAMINE AND ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PROSECUTING AGRICULTURAL CRIME CASES, INCLUDING THOSE OF AGRICULTURAL THEFT, VANDALISM, AND TRESPASS, IN THE STATE.

This Senate Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to launch a two-year pilot project aimed at improving how agricultural crimes, such as theft, vandalism, and trespassing, are handled across the entire state. The bill requests that the department work with law enforcement agencies to hire dedicated officers and evaluate the current effectiveness of prosecuting these cases. During the pilot period, the department will gather data on conviction rates, identify best practices for police and legal coordination, and analyze where crimes are most common to develop prevention strategies. By the end of the project, the department must submit reports to the Legislature detailing its findings and any proposed legislation to make the program permanent or adjust it based on the results.