HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

159

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the convening of a task force to investigate the sale of ivory in the state.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, African elephants are nearing extinction due to their slaughter by poachers intent on selling their ivory for high prices driven by consumer demand; and

 

     WHEREAS, in March 2013, 178 nations attended the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, where it was documented that elephant slaughter has reached crisis proportions; and

 

     WHEREAS, the black market trade of ivory is skyrocketing throughout the world through internet sales; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, adopted by the United States, banned the international trade of African elephant ivory in 1990; and

 

     WHEREAS, despite prohibitions on the sale of certain classes of ivory, generally, African ivory is legally sold in Hawaii if it was imported before 1990, or is at least one hundred years old at the time of import and has not been altered since; and

 

     WHEREAS, because it is difficult to determine the age of ivory or to distinguish elephant ivory from that of other animal species, except by laboratory examination by scientific experts, ivory of unknown origin and age continues to be sold in Hawaii; and

 

WHEREAS, the scale and urgency of the ivory trade throughout the world and its impact on elephant populations warrants a meaningful review and discussion of the efficacy of Hawaii laws regarding the sale of ivory in the State; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the Senate concurring, that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is requested to convene a task force to investigate and make recommendations regarding the legal and illegal sale of ivory in the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of the following members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

 

     (1)  The Chairperson of the House Standing Committee on Judiciary;

 

     (2)  The Chairperson of the House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Business;

 

     (3)  A representative from the Department of the Attorney General;

 

     (4)  A representative from the Hawaiian Humane Society; and

 

     (5)  Any other members that the Speaker of the House of Representatives may appoint at the Speaker's discretion.

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015.

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaiian Humane Society.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Task Force on Sales of Ivory