STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1483-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

RE:   S.B. No. 3033

      S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 3033, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL THEFT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to strengthen the existing agricultural theft law by clarifying that the law extends to agricultural products raised or produced by any person, rather than only commercial enterprises and research agencies and deleting provisions specifying signage requirements and prima facie evidence of theft.

The Department of Agriculture, District 4 Council Member of the Hawaii County Council, County of Hawai‘i Prosecuting Attorney, Ulupono Initiative, and Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i supported this measure.  The Hawai‘i Farm Bureau commented on this measure.

     Your Committee respectfully requests that your Committee on Judiciary consider the concerns of the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau relating to the sufficiency of enforcement personnel, as expressed in its testimony on this measure, and to take any action deemed appropriate. 

     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 S.B. No. 3033, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair