STAND. COM. REP. NO.  541

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1021

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1021 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE WILDLIFE VIOLATOR COMPACT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enter into the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact or a similar agreement for mutual assistance in the enforcement of wildlife laws.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaiian Humane Society, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Friends of Hanauma Bay, and For the Fishes.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact is a multistate agreement that promotes enforcement of hunting, fishing, trapping, and other wildlife-related regulations across jurisdictions.  The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact establishes a reciprocal process that enables local law enforcement to take enforcement action against nonresident wildlife law violators who can therefore be treated as state residents for enforcement purposes.  Your Committee further finds that forty-eight states have passed legislation needed to join the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact and believes that it is time for Hawaii to join this effort.

 

     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. 1021 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair