HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1872
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SUSTAINABILITY.

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

SECTION 1. Section 183D-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§183D-2 Powers and duties of department. The department shall:

(1) Manage and administer the wildlife and wildlife resources of the State;

(2) Enforce all laws relating to the protecting, taking, hunting, killing, propagating, or increasing the wildlife within the State and the waters subject to its jurisdiction;

(3) Recognize that:

(A) Game mammals and game birds can provide a sustainable food source that merits high-quality habitats with sufficient food, water, and refuge to support viable populations sufficient for hunting; provided that adverse effects to the environment are sufficiently minimized or offset through native ecosystem protections;

(B) Proper management of game populations in appropriate areas minimizes their impacts and provides benefits, such as the reduction of grass fire fuel and weed control to important watershed areas; and

(C) The State's unique relationship with the ocean requires careful consideration and management of land and ocean activities that prioritize the public trust responsibilities of the State, including the conservation of natural resources for future generations and the protection of native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices pursuant to article XI, section 1, and article XII, section 7, of the Hawaii State Constitution;

[(3)] (4) Establish and maintain wildlife propagating facility or facilities;

[(4)] (5) Subject to the provisions of title 12, import wildlife for the purpose of propagating and disseminating the same in the State and the waters subject to its jurisdiction;

[(5)] (6) Distribute, free of charge, as the department deems to be in the public interest, game for the purpose of increasing the food supply of the State; provided that when in the discretion of the department the public interest will not be materially interfered with by so doing, the department may propagate and furnish wildlife to private parties, upon such reasonable terms, conditions, and prices as the department may determine;

[(6)] (7) Ascertain, compile, and disseminate, free of charge, information and advice as to the best methods of protecting, propagating, and distributing wildlife in the State and the waters subject to its jurisdiction;

[(7)] (8) Gather and compile information and statistics concerning the area, location, character, and increase and decrease of wildlife in the State;

[(8)] (9) Gather and compile information concerning wildlife recommended for release in different localities, including the care and propagation of wildlife for protective, productive, and aesthetic purposes and other useful information, which the department deems proper;

[(9)] (10) Have the power to manage and regulate all lands which may be set apart as game management areas, public hunting areas, and wildlife sanctuaries;

[(10)] (11) Pursuant to section 183D-65 of this chapter, destroy predators deemed harmful to wildlife;

[(11)] (12) Formulate, and from time to time recommend to the governor and legislature, such additional legislation necessary or desirable to implement the objectives of title 12; and

[(12)] (13) Preserve, protect, and promote public hunting."

SECTION 2. (a) No later than July 1, 2023, each department, office, or agency of the State shall update its rules and policies to integrate the local hunting and fishing industries into any food security or sustainability strategies that the department, office, or agency employs.

(b) The updated rules and policies shall be consistent with section 183D-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

SECTION 3. The head of each principal department of the State shall submit to the legislature a report on the progress of that department and any agency administratively attached to that department in implementing section 2 of this Act, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2023 and 2024. The report shall include the department's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation.

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

State Departments; Gaming and Fishing Resources; Conservation; Sustainability; Food Security; Rules and Procedures; Report

Description:

Requires the department of land and natural resources to recognize that game mammals and game birds provide a food source and that striking an appropriate balance between the management of game mammal and game bird populations and sustainability of their natural habitats to reduce negative impacts to important watershed areas is a priority and that the State's unique relationship with the ocean requires careful consideration and management of land and ocean activities that prioritize the public trust responsibilities of the State. Requires each department, office, or agency of the State to update its rules and policies to integrate the local hunting and fishing industries into any food security or sustainability strategies that department, office, or agency employs. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

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