STAND. COM. REP. NO.  158

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1041

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1041 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUNTING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

(1)  Establish a State Game Commission (Commission), empowered to establish policies and develop plans regarding the management, protection, and promotion of public hunting and to serve in an advisory capacity to the Governor and the Board of Land and Natural Resources; and

 

(2)  Appropriate funds to establish the Commission.

 

     The Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, County of Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission, Hawaii Hunting Association, Hawaii Rifle Association, Babooze Bowstrings, Hawaii Sportsman Alliance, Hawaii Near Shore Fishermen, Big Island Outfitters, Society for Hawaii Heritage Animals, Lessons in Firearms Education, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pig Hunters Association of Oahu, Ahiu Hawaii, National Rifle Association, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Friends of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Animal Rights Hawaii, Oahu Invasive Species Committee, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and several individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Specifying that the Commission serve in an advisory capacity only to the Board of Land and Natural Resources and not to the Governor;

 

     (2)  Specifying that Commission members be licensed hunters in the State rather than persons demonstrating strong interest in the preservation, protection, and promotion of public hunting in Hawaii;

 

     (3)  Amending the powers of the Commission to recommend procedures, develop plans, collaborate with other agencies, and provide recommendations on the allocation of funds and other non-game resources, to better reflect the advisory nature of the Commission with regard to the Board of Land and Natural Resources;

 

     (4)  Specifying that meetings conducted by the Commission shall be subject to chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

     (5)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1041, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1041, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair