Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 640, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to criminalize and create civil liability for the destruction of crops.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Forest Industry Association, and Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

Your Committee finds that there has been an increasing amount of vandalism to Hawaii's precious crops. More specifically, your Committee finds that the target has been agricultural biotechnology research sites, which produce valuable research to produce higher yields, develop new disease resistant varieties, and control the consistency and quality of crops. Thus, your Committee believes that a sufficient deterrent needs to be in place to minimize and even eliminate crop destruction and this measure will provide that deterrence.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 640, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.