STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1657

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 85

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.R. No. 85 entitled:

"SENATE 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, ROOSTERS, AND PIGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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, roosters, and pigs in certain areas of the State.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that feral chickens and roosters have become a persistent nuisance, particularly in suburban and urban residential communities. In addition to feral chickens and roosters, there has been a significant increase in the population of feral pigs that can cause damage and annoyance to properties and communities. Your Committee additionally finds that to protect Hawaii's ecosystem, natural resources, and the health and safety of its residents, it is critical that the State work together with the counties and the affected communities, including hunters, farmers, and natural resource managers, to identify and implement collaborative solutions to control the significant increase in the population of feral chickens, roosters, and pigs. Therefore, this measure requests certain state and local government agencies to collaborate to establish and implement a five-year pilot program to mitigate and control the State's population of feral chickens, roosters, and pigs.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 85 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair