STAND. COM. REP. 1048

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 550

S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 550, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to deter and prevent agricultural theft by expanding and strengthening certification and enforcement provisions related to the ownership and movement of agricultural commodities. Among other things, this bill:

(1) Expands the definition of "agricultural commodity" to include silvicultural products;

(2) Repeals the minimum weight and monetary value thresholds for sales of agricultural commodities that trigger ownership certification requirements, thereby expanding the ownership certification requirements to include agricultural commodities regardless of the amount or value of such commodities; and

(3) Allows any person authorized and designated by the Board of Agriculture to issue citations and summons related to enforcement of provisions for ownership and movement of agricultural commodities.

The Department of Agriculture (DOA), Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, and Hawaii Forest Industry Association supported this bill.

Your Committee recognizes the chronic problem of agricultural theft. This measure will assist DOA in its efforts to address this problem.

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. 550, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

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

 

____________________________

FELIPE P. ABINSAY, JR., Chair