STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1516

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   S.B. No. 1183

      S.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 1183, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE LAND MAMMAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to raise awareness of the ōpe‘ape‘a, otherwise known as the Hawaiian hoary bat, as an endangered species and uniquely Hawaiian land mammal by establishing and designating the ōpe‘ape‘a as the official land mammal of the State.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Department of Land and Natural Resources supported this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1183, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts,

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair