Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1082 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to develop solutions to the growing problem of agricultural theft by:

The Office of Economic Development of the County of Maui, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Big Island Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaiian Marine Enterprises, C&H Farms, CAG, and Kaupo Ranch, Ltd., testified in support of this bill. The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee recognizes that agricultural theft is an increasing threat to the livelihood of Hawaii's farmers. Millions of dollars' worth of products and equipment are stolen annually, and farmers must also devote countless hours of intensive labor merely to replace the lost items. Your Committee fully supports efforts to reduce and prevent agricultural theft.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an appropriation of $1 to promote further discussion. In addition, your Committee has made technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1082, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1082, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.