STAND. COM. REP. NO.  51-10

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2010

RE:   H.B. No. 2115

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2115 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL TRESPASS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to deter criminal activity against the agricultural industry by providing for a maximum fine of $10,000 for criminal trespass in the second degree on agricultural lands.

     The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and Maui Cattlemen's Association testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Crop Improvement Association supported this measure with amendments.

     Over the years the agricultural industry has experienced increasing instances of theft and vandalism.  As these individuals must also trespass onto private property for these instances to occur, increasing the fine for criminal trespassing in the second degree onto agricultural land may act as a deterrent against this activity.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by changing its effective date to January 20, 2020, to encourage further discussion.

     Technical, nonsubstantive amendments have also been made 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. 2115, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2115, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair