STAND. COM. REP. NO. 944

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 138
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which
was referred H.B. No. 138, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL GOODS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill to help prevent theft of
agricultural goods and commodities by requiring proof of
ownership of produce lots of fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

     Testimony in support of this bill was received from the
Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Pineapple Growers
Association of Hawaii, and the Hawaii Aquaculture Association.
Additional comments were submitted by the Board of Agriculture
and the Hawaii Farm Bureau.

     Your Committee finds that there exists a compelling need to
discourage agricultural theft.  Given the rich history of
agriculture in our State and the transition from major crops to
diversified crops, it is vital to safeguard against losses
resulting from theft.

     This bill has been amended by:

     (1)  Deleting the requirement that one copy of the
          certificate be given to the Department of Agriculture;


 
 
 
 
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                                 Page 2

 
     (2)  Adding three new subsections that provide provisions
          for citations and summons; and 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of style and clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 138, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto
as H.B. No. 138, H.D. 2.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Judiciary &
                                   Hawaiian Affairs,



                                   ______________________________
                                   PAUL T. OSHIRO, Chair