STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3157

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     S.B. No. 2188

        S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2188, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDLIFE OFFENSES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide that all animal parts, products, or items containing prohibited animal parts or products involved in the commission of wildlife trafficking or certain hunting offenses are to be considered contraband which shall be forfeited to and disposed of by the State.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaiian Humane Society, Animal Rights Hawaii, and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Act 125, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, enacted the most comprehensive state law targeting the illegal wildlife trade, to date.  Although penalties for wildlife traffickers are in effect, your Committee finds that removing trafficked products from the market and instruments of trafficking out of circulation are another step forward towards ending wildlife trafficking.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2188, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

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KARL RHOADS, Chair