STAND. COM. REP. NO. 609

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 576

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 576 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FERAL CHICKEN MANAGEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture to collaborate on feral chicken management projects.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from ten individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Animal Rights Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that the infestation of feral chickens throughout Hawaii, particularly in urban and residential areas, requires concerted action by the State and counties, as animal control is under the jurisdiction of the counties.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the City and County of Honolulu and counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai to collaborate with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture on feral chicken management projects;

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

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 576, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 576, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair