HB2262

Report Title:

Importation of birds; quarantine

Description:

Requires birds to be quarantined for at least ten days and found free of the West Nile virus before being imported into Hawaii.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2262
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO THE IMPORTATION OF BIRDS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the West Nile virus has emerged in recent years in temperate regions of Europe and North America, presenting a threat to public, equine, and animal health. The most serious manifestation of the virus infection is fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in humans and horses, as well as mortality in certain domestic and wild birds. Infected birds imported into Hawaii pose a potentially deadly threat to the State's health and welfare.

The purpose of this Act is to require that birds be quarantined and found free of the West Nile virus before importation into Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Section 150A-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§150A-6 Soil, plants, animals, etc., importation or possession prohibited. No person shall transport, receive for transport, or cause to be transported to the State, for the purpose of debarkation or entry thereinto, any of the following:

(1) Soil; provided that limited quantities of soil may be imported into the State for experimental or other scientific purposes under permit with conditions prescribed by the department;

(2) Rocks, plants, plant products, or any article with soil adhering thereto;

(3) Any live snake, flying fox, fruit bat, Gila monster, injurious insect, or eels of the order Anguilliformes, or any other animal, plant, or microorganism in any stage of development that is detrimental or potentially harmful to agriculture, horticulture, animal or public health, or natural resources, including native biota, or has an adverse effect on the environment as determined by the board, except, as provided in this chapter and provided that, notwithstanding the list of animals prohibited entry into the State, the department may bring into and maintain in the State one live, sterile brown tree snake of the male sex for the purpose of research or training of snake detector dogs, and, further, that a government agency may bring into and maintain in the State not more than two live, nonvenomous snakes of the male sex solely for the purpose of exhibition in a government zoo, but only after:

(A) The board is presented with satisfactory evidence that the sex of the snakes was established to be male prior to the shipment; and

(B) The board gives written approval conditioned upon such terms as the board may deem necessary, which terms shall include measures to assure the prevention of escape, continuing supervision and control by the board with respect to any department import under this paragraph, and the manner in which the snakes shall be disposed of or destroyed.

In case of the death of one or more snakes, the department or government agency may import and maintain replacements subject to the conditions described in this paragraph; [and]

(4) Any live or dead honey bees, or used bee equipment that is not certified by the department to be free of pests; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the importation of bee semen[.]; and

(5) Any live bird without certification that the bird has been in quarantine for at least ten days in a mosquito-free indoor environment and is free of the West Nile virus."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________