STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3446

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1748

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1748, H.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 animal parts or products involved in the commission of wildlife tracking or certain hunting offenses shall be considered contraband and subject to forfeiture and disposal 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 Welfare Institute, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure empowers Hawaii law enforcement and courts to further penalize those who commit certain wildlife offenses.  This measure ensures that contraband items are forfeited before they can be returned to the stream of commerce, thereby decreasing the amount of illegal trafficking of animal parts, products, or items containing prohibited animal parts or products in circulation.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1748, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

 

 

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair