STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2028

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: S.B. No. 2482

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2482 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO ABATE AGRICULTURAL THEFT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the establishment of an agricultural theft abatement task force.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, North Shore Farms, Waialua Farmers Corporation, and one individual. Testimony opposing this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that farmers whose agricultural commodities are stolen incur substantial economic losses that threaten the sustainability of their businesses. During the 2001 legislative interim, this Committee conducted statewide hearings on agriculture theft and confirmed that agriculture theft was a serious problem that jeopardized farming enterprises throughout the State.

Your Committee further finds that combating agricultural theft is a complicated endeavor. It requires coordination among Hawaii's agricultural industry, law enforcement, and various state agencies. Therefore, your Committee finds that the interagency approach provided by this measure will advance efforts to develop strategies to abate agricultural theft.

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. 2482 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

JAN YAGI BUEN, Chair