STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1835

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.R. No. 116

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.R. No. 116 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU, AND THE COUNTY OF HAWAII, TO COLLABORATE TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A FIVE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM TO MITIGATE AND CONTROL THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE POPULATION OF FERAL CHICKENS AND ROOSTERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, City and County of Honolulu, and County of Hawaii to collaborate to establish and implement a five-year pilot program to mitigate and control the significant increase in the population of feral chickens and roosters.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the population of feral chickens, which present numerous hazards and nuisances to urban and suburban communities, must be controlled. Your Committee further finds, however, that the Hawaii Invasive Species Council is better suited to undertake this pilot program.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Hawaii Invasive Species Council:

(A) In coordination and collaboration with the City and County of Honolulu and County of Hawaii, to establish and implement the five-year pilot program; and

(B) To submit the interim and final reports to the Legislature;

(2) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose;

(3) Modifying the list of recipients who receive certified copies in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(4) 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 116, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 116, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair