STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1085

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 46

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 46, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDLIFE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require all habitat conservation plans to include an agreement for plan participants to enter into and maintain an annual service contract with a stand-by and response facility available to provide emergency medical and rehabilitation services to native wildlife affected by activities undertaken within the plan area. 

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, Hawai‘i Wildlife Center, and five individuals.

Your Committee acknowledges that Hawaii's unique ecosystem is under constant threat by natural and manmade causes and that habitat conservation plans are one means of mitigating against this threat. Your Committee finds that the annual service contract requirement proposed by this measure will help to fulfill the requirement under existing law that each habitat conservation plan identify the steps that will be taken to minimize the impact of any incidental take to the maximum extent practicable. Thus, your Committee believes this measure seeks to ensure that permitted, professionally staffed, wildlife response resources are prepared to protect native wildlife adversely affected by human activities and help satisfy the statutory responsibilities of the State.

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. 46, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair