REPORT TITLE:
DLNR; Snake Program/Team


DESCRIPTION:
Establishes a snake control program and a snake watch attack team
attached to the program within the DLNR.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        
THE SENATE                              S.B. NO.           1599
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO THE CONTROL OF ALIEN SNAKE SPECIES.



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

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Hawaii's ecological
 
 2 habitat is fragile and constantly under attack from foreign
 
 3 species.  The brown tree snake is an especially harmful alien
 
 4 that has wreaked destruction on the island of Guam where the
 
 5 native bird population has all been wiped out and where even
 
 6 human infants are at risk from snake bites.  Because the brown
 
 7 tree snake is given to climbing, it has also caused immense
 
 8 damage by shorting out overhead wires carrying electricity to the
 
 9 residents of Guam.
 
10      In Hawaii, the introduction of any species of snake,
 
11 especially the brown tree snake, would be disastrous and all
 
12 steps need to be taken to prevent their introduction and
 
13 establishment in the islands.  Currently, the department of
 
14 agriculture is tasked with the brown tree snake problem, as well
 
15 as the duty to oversee the State's overall program regarding the
 
16 introduction of foreign species.  The department of agriculture
 
17 is assisted by a temporary snake watch attack team within the
 
18 department of land and natural resources that also works to
 
19 detect and contain the brown tree snake.
 

 
Page 2                                                     
                                     S.B. NO.           1599
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      The purpose of this Act is to make permanent the department
 
 2 of land and natural resources snake watch and attack team.
 
 3      SECTION 2.  Chapter 195D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
 
 4 amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated
 
 5 and to read as follows:
 
 6      "§195D-     Protection against snake species; snake control
 
 7 program; snake watch and attack team.  (a)  There is established
 
 8 within the department of land and natural resources a snake
 
 9 control program and a snake watch attack team attached to the
 
10 program to detect and protect against the introduction of any
 
11 snake species into the State, to contain the introduction and
 
12 establishment of any snake population in the State, and to
 
13 coordinate its efforts with those of the department of
 
14 agriculture.
 
15      (b)  The chairperson of the board of land and natural
 
16 resources shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to
 
17 carry out the purposes of this section."
 
18      SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.
 
19      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
 
20 
 
21                           INTRODUCED BY:  _______________________