HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	576
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to feral chicken management.

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

SECTION 1. (a) The department of land and natural resources and department of agriculture shall collaborate on feral chicken management projects to manage feral chicken populations; mitigate the impacts of feral chickens on native habitats and ecosystems; and reduce their disturbance to indigenous species of wildlife and plants, agriculture, and communities. A secondary goal of feral chicken management shall be to generate a viable source of food to assist in feeding the State's houseless or hungry.

(b) Feral chicken management shall include:

(1) A program to encourage the beneficial use of carcasses, including retail and nonprofit options for feeding the houseless and hungry, which shall include:

(A) Authority and capacity for ante- and post-mortem inspections, slaughtering, and processing of feral chickens; and

(B) Best management practices for the safe handling of a carcass from the time the feral chicken is caught to the time it is processed;

(2) Funding mechanisms to support feral chicken management, including:

(A) Sources of seed money to develop and initiate programs;

(B) Public-private partnerships to reduce reliance on public funds;

(C) Hunting fees, sales to local farms, and other cost recovery methods to subsidize costs; and

(D) Potential public and private grant funding to facilitate implementation, such as Clean Water Act funding to assist with practices to reduce reef sedimentation;

(3) Programs to incentivize the live and humane capture of feral chickens, such as a feral chicken redemption center or live capture rewards for adult chickens;

(4) Mechanisms to minimize diseased feral chickens; and

(5) Any other matters deemed appropriate by the department of land and natural resources and department of agriculture.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) natural resources management specialist position related to feral chicken management.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Feral Chicken Management; DLNR; DOA; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the department of land and natural resources and department of agriculture to collaborate on feral chicken management projects. Appropriates funds.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.