STAND. COM. REP. 13

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 158

H.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 Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 158 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CONTROL OF AXIS DEER IN MAUI COUNTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate unspecified funds to develop a master plan to control axis deer in Maui county.

The Mayor of the County of Maui, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Ulupalakua Ranch, Inc., and two concerned citizens submitted testimony in support of the measure. The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the intent of the bill.

Your Committee finds that the uncontrolled growth of the axis deer population is having a devastating impact on the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, including destroying crops, jeopardizing critical watersheds, and posing a safety hazard to motorists. The widespread economic, environmental, and legal problems demand a comprehensive master plan to control the axis deer at the state level, which, your Committee believes, can be developed in one fiscal year at an estimated cost of $50,000.

 

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai as the geographic coverage of the master plan to control axis deer;

(2) Specifying the appropriation amount of $50,000 for fiscal year 2003-2004; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 158, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 158, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land Use, and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

____________________________

EZRA R. KANOHO, Chair