HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	269
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to importation of animals.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 150A-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§150A-6  Soil, plants, animals, etc., importation or possession prohibited.  No person shall transport, receive for transport, or cause to be transported to the State, for the purpose of debarkation or entry thereinto, any of the following:

     (1)  Soil; provided that limited quantities of soil may be imported into the State for experimental or other scientific purposes under permit with conditions prescribed by the department;

     (2)  Rocks, plants, plant products, or any article with soil adhering thereto;

     (3)  Any live snake, flying fox, fruit bat, Gila monster, injurious insect, or eels of the order Anguilliformes, or any other animal, plant, or microorganism in any stage of development that is detrimental or potentially harmful to agriculture, horticulture, animal or public health, or natural resources, including native biota, or has an adverse effect on the environment as determined by the board, except[,] as provided in this chapter and provided that, notwithstanding the list of animals prohibited entry into the State, the department may bring into and maintain in the State four live, sterile brown tree snakes of the male sex for the purpose of research or training of snake detector dogs, and, further, that a government agency may bring into and maintain in the State at any time not more than [two] six live, nonvenomous snakes of the male sex and not more than ten specimens of the genus Pteropus flying fox of the male sex solely for the purpose of exhibition, education, or research in a government zoo, but only after:

         (A)  The board is presented with satisfactory evidence that the sex of the snakes or flying foxes, or both, was established to be male prior to the shipment; and

         (B)  The board gives written approval conditioned upon such terms as the board may deem necessary, which terms shall include measures to assure the prevention of escape, continuing supervision and control by the board with respect to any department import under this paragraph, and the manner in which the snakes shall be disposed of or destroyed.

          In case of the death of one or more snakes[,] or flying foxes, the department or government agency may import and maintain replacements subject to the conditions described in this paragraph; and

     (4)  Any live or dead honey bees, or used bee equipment that is not certified by the department to be free of pests; provided that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the importation of bee semen."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Prohibited Animals; Importation; Government Exemption

Description:

Increases the number of live, nonvenomous male snakes that a government agency may import into the State from 2 to 6.  Allows a government agency to import up to 10 male specimens of the genus Pteropus flying fox.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.