STAND. COM. REP. NO. 725

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 775

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 775, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUNTING GUIDES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require hunting guides who take their clients to hunt on private lands to first obtain written permission from the owner of the private land, or occupier or holder, where appropriate; and

(2) Require hunting guides to provide copies of the written permissions obtained to hunt on private lands as part of their annual reports to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that hunting access is important as a food source, recreation, and to remove unmanaged ungulates from the land. However, proper management of hunting is of paramount importance to ensure the safety of hunters and wildlife. Hunting guides are currently required to submit an annual report to the Department of Land and Natural Resources within thirty days of their guide license expiration. The addition of a written permission form to be submitted with the annual report for hunts guided on private lands would not only provide greater accountability, but the additional form would not be an administrative burden to the State. This measure creates greater accountability of hunting guides who lead hunts on private lands while also ensuring continued hunting access across the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 775, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair