STAND. COM. REP. NO.  670-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 1996

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1996, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a two-year agricultural theft and vandalism pilot project to focus on investigating and prosecuting agricultural theft and vandalism in the County of Hawaii.

The County of Hawaii Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, a Hawaii County Council Member, Orchid Growers of Hawaii, Hunting Farming Fishing Association, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Hawaii Tropical Flower Council, Hawaii Tropical Flowers and Foliage Association, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., Hawaii Farm Bureau, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and many individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture provided comments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1996, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair