Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 547 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to deter and prevent agricultural theft by changing the penalty for criminal trespass in the first degree from a misdemeanor to a class C felony.

Testimony in support of this bill was submitted by the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii.

Your Committees note that farmers and ranchers are faced with the chronic problem of agricultural theft. An agricultural theft task force made up of farmers, ranchers, DOA, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, and county officials has indicated that one of the main issues with respect to agricultural theft is the leniency of the penalty for criminal trespass. This bill addresses this concern.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 547 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.