STAND. COM. REP. NO. 208

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 535

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 535 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUNTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require:

(1) The Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and periodically update a comprehensive game management plan; and

(2) The Board of Land and Natural Resources to establish a certified public hunter program to address the growing problem of feral pig populations on private property and in residential areas.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Grey Boar Wildlife Services LLC; Hawaii Firearms Coalition; and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that game management is a crucial responsibility of the State and not an easy task. A comprehensive management plan with periodic updates is the first step in the process of taking control of the current situation. Your Committee further finds that the management of feral animals, especially wild pigs, must be addressed to protect agricultural crops; conservation areas; and natural resources, such as watersheds and important plant and animal species.

Your Committee notes that hunting on private lands by certified public hunters or other individuals should not be mandatory or conducted without the written consent of the private landowner and that the hunting program must include adequate training, vetting, and enforcement to ensure the safety of residents, their property and livestock, and the hunters themselves.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 535, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 535, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair