STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2358

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2755

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2755 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide hunters with access to various public hunting areas via easements across privately owned lands located adjacent to public hunting areas, and appropriate funds for the acquisition of easements from private owners of land adjacent to public hunting areas.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Rifle Association, Pig Hunters Association of Oahu, Conservation Council of Hawaii, and one individual.  Testimony in opposition was received from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that hunters have historically had access to various public hunting areas by crossing through privately owned unimproved lands.  Many of these previously unimproved lands are now being developed by their owners.  As a result, hunters are being denied access to public hunting areas by their traditional means of access.

     Your Committee further recognizes this trend and has been attempting to identify locations and evaluate methods to restore public access along many of the pre-existing but informal access routes.  Due to liability concerns of adjacent landowners and the cost of access road management and maintenance, it is legally and fiscally challenging to restore public access.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to continue the discussion in this matter.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2755, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2755, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair