Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2271 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to find ways to reduce the theft of agricultural commodities by appropriating an unspecified amount of funds to establish an Agricultural Theft Abatement Task Force.

The Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Aquaculture Association, and Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii testified in support of this bill. The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu testified in support of the intent of this bill.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2271 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.