Report Title:
Wildlife and Forestry; Hunting; Feral Pigs
Description:
Allows for the hunting of feral pigs year round for a period of 5 years. (HB2942 HD1)
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2942 |
|
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
||
|
|
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO FERAL PIGS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the hunting of feral pigs and other predators deemed harmful to native wildlife and forestry has helped to maintain Hawaii's unique natural environment. However, the tremendous growth in the population of feral pigs (sus scrofa scrofa) has contributed to the destruction of native habitats and rain forests. Feral pigs have also spread alien plants to the detriment of native plant species and accelerated the erosion process by uprooting plant shoots and roots.
The purpose of this Act is to help preserve Hawaii's natural wildlife and forestry by encouraging population control of feral pigs by extending the period allowed for feral pig hunting from seasonal to year-round.
SECTION 2. Section 183D-61, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§183D-61 Permits to take wild birds, game birds, and game mammals. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions contained in this chapter, the department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91:
(1) Authorizing the taking and collecting of wild birds, game birds, and game mammals for scientific and educational purposes, or for the purpose of distributing wild birds to different localities in the State pursuant to this title;
(2) Authorizing the keeping of wild birds in captivity for the protection, treatment for injury or disease, propagation, and other similar purposes consistent with the preservation, protection, and conservation of wild birds;
(3) Authorizing the taking and destruction of those wild birds, game birds, and game mammals the department may have found after investigation to be destructive to crops or to other game birds and game mammals or otherwise harmful to agriculture or aquaculture, or to constitute a nuisance or a health hazard; or
(4) Authorizing without requiring permits or reports, the destruction within a district of wild birds, game birds, and game mammals [which] that are generally destructive to crops or otherwise harmful to agriculture or aquaculture[,] or constitute a nuisance or a health hazard within the district.
(b) Except as provided in [subsection] subsections (a)(4)[,] and (c), the rules shall require the person or persons seeking authority to apply for and obtain a written permit from the department. The permits may prescribe terms and conditions the department deems necessary to prevent abuse of the authority granted thereby[,] and may be canceled by the department, after notice and hearing, for the violation of any term or condition.
(c) The department shall permit the hunting of feral pigs year-round in designated areas throughout the state."
SECTION 3. 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 2006-2007 for the purposes of this Act.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2011; provided that section 183D-61, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the same form in which it existed on the day before the effective date of this Act.