HB2121

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that feral pigs are an invasive species that cause considerable damage to the environment by consuming ground-cover plants; destroying understory vegetation; churning and wallowing in the ground causing erosion, and creating mosquito breeding areas. Feral pigs also directly impact the survival of native forest birds and other species. Feral pigs have migrated in increasing numbers from state land to residential areas, causing property damage and disturbances that affect the health, safety, and welfare of area residents.

The department of land and natural resources has the duty and responsibility under section 171-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to "manage and administer...forests, forest reserves,...public hunting areas, [and] natural area reserves." The most common method of controlling feral pig populations has been by scheduled hunting sessions sanctioned by the department of land and natural resources. Ironically, despite the increase and the environmental damage caused by feral pigs near residential areas such as Manoa and Tantalus, the department of land and natural resources has shortened the length of the feral pig hunting season, allowing feral pigs to maintain their population size.

In 2006, the legislature adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 98, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, which requested the department of land and natural resources to submit to the 2007 legislature, a plan, including findings and recommendations, to identify areas where feral pigs were a problem and to reduce the feral pig population.

The purpose of this Act is to direct the department of land and natural resources to implement the plan to identify and reduce problem feral pig populations as requested pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 98, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, by the legislature in 2006 by establishing and maintaining a temporary pilot program to identify and reduce the feral pig population and the resulting damage and disturbance to public health, safety, and welfare.

SECTION 2. The department of land and natural resources shall establish, implement, and maintain a pilot program to identify and reduce problem feral pig populations pursuant to the plan requested in House Concurrent Resolution No. 98, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, by the legislature in 2006. In establishing and implementing the pilot program, the department shall include the following considerations:

(1) Expanding game management areas;

(2) Expanding public hunting areas;

(3) Extending the hunting season for feral pigs from seasonal to year round;

(4) Eliminating the bag limit on feral pigs;

(5) Contracting with licensed private hunters for the removal of pigs, which shall include:

(A) Reimbursement to licensed private hunters for mileage traveled from the licensed private hunter's residence to the removal area at a rate of 48.5 cents per mile; and

(B) Reimbursement to licensed private hunters for the cost of one trap used by the licensed private hunter to capture feral pigs; and

(6) Providing cash bounties to licensed hunter for each feral pig captured.

SECTION 3. The pilot program established, implemented, and maintained by the department of land and natural resources to identify and reduce the feral pig population and the resulting damage and disturbance to public health, safety, and welfare shall terminate on June 30, 2010.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2121
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII