STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2884

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1041

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1041, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUNTING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Game Management Advisory Commission to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of land and Natural Resources, Aha Moku Advisory Committee, County of Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission, Pig Hunters Association of Oahu, Club Hui Kuahiwi, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hunting Farming and Fishing Association, Hawaii Sportsmen's Alliance, Hawaii Hunting Association, The Society for Hawaii Heritage Animals, Big island Invasive Species Committee, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and forty-six individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Conservation Council for Hawaii.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Animal Rights Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that the geography, game animals, environment, and habitat of each Hawaiian island is different.  The Game Management Advisory Commission proposed by this measure would be a collaborative effort to bring together those with varying knowledge, experience, and leadership with regard to gaming in the State to work with and advise the Board of Land and Natural Resources on gaming issues.  Your Committee finds that the Game Management Advisory Committee is an opportunity for the public gaming community to be heard and its views to be incorporated into the decision-making process of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Designating that members, other than the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, must have, in addition to a hunting license, leadership experience in working directly with local hunter or shooting organizations;

 

     (2)  Specifying that the Game Management Advisory Commission's role of advising the Department of Land and Natural Resources on policies, plans, and procedures related to the control of game mammals includes aerial shooting activities by the Department and its contractors;

 

     (3)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $100,000;

 

     (4)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2016; and

 

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1041, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1041, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

 

 

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair