STAND. COM. REP. NO.1308

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 640

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 640, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to protect Hawaii's agricultural and biotechnology industries by:

(1) Imposing civil liability upon persons who damage or destroy silvicultural or agricultural commodities that are known to be intended for personal or commercial purposes, or for research and development purposes; and

(2) Establishing damages at twice the market value of the crop or commodity destroyed, and the costs associated with production, research, testing, and replacement.

The Department of Agriculture, the Office of the Special Advisor to the Governor for Technology Development, the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the Kauai Farm Bureau, and the Hawaiian Alliance for Responsible Technology and Science testified in support of this measure.

 

Your Committee finds that destructive tactics used by some biotech activists in recent years are objectionable. The imposition of civil liability in this bill will deter those who resort to illegal acts to advance their opinions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 640, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair