STAND. COM. REP. NO.  882-14

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1902

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1902, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUNTING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that there is no net loss of public hunting areas throughout the State by:

 

     (1)  Prohibiting the Department of Land and Natural Resources from reducing the total acreage of designated public hunting areas on each island;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Department to designate comparable replacement state land if the Department makes public hunting area land unavailable; and

 

     (3)  Requiring the Department to submit an annual report to the Legislature explaining the unavailability and replacement of public hunting lands in the previous year.

 

     The Mayor of the County of Hawaii; a Hawaii County Council Member; Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission; Hawaii Sportsmen Alliance; National Wild Turkey Federation; Mauna Kea Recreational Users Group; Hawaii Rifle Association; JK Taxidermy; Babooze Bowstrings; Hawaiian Hunting Association; National Rifle Association of America; Hui Kuahiwi; and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources; the Nature Conservancy; the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Earth Justice; Oahu Invasive Species Committee; Big Island Invasive Species Committee; Hawaii Audubon Society; Friends at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge; Kauai Watershed Alliance; and numerous concerned individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and one concerned individual commented on this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Inserting a preamble that defines the purpose of the measure;

 

     (2)  Specifying that the Department shall make reasonable efforts to prevent and replace the loss, destruction, or degradation of public hunting areas on any island of the State instead of strictly prohibiting a reduction in acreage;

 

     (3)  Clarifying the required contents of the Department's report to the Legislature regarding public hunting lands;

 

     (4)  Establishing the Hunting Advisory Commission within the Department, to serve in an advisory role on hunting-related matters;

 

     (5)  Making an appropriation of an unspecified sum to the Department for administrative expenses related to the Hunting Advisory Commission; and

 

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1902, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1902, H.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair