Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2772 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to reduce agricultural and aquacultural theft and vandalism by establishing penalties for these crimes that are based on the value of the property damage inflicted. Under this bill, a person commits the offense of criminal property damage in:

(3) The third degree for other damage inflicted.

The Department of Agriculture, the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Aquaculture Association, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Meadow Gold Dairies, Hawaii Beekeepers Association, and several individuals testified in support of this bill. The Office of the Public Defender opposed this measure.

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. 2772 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.