HR283.DOC

WHEREAS, there is a strong cultural tradition throughout Hawaii and other Pacific islands of raising backyard flocks of poultry; and

WHEREAS, owning poultry is a traditional part of the rural environment in Hawaii, and poultry cohabitate naturally with humans and other domesticated animals; and

WHEREAS, many persons who live on Hawaiian Home Lands own backyard flocks of chickens and other poultry as a hobby that provides them with a source of food, companionship, or enjoyment; and

WHEREAS, avian influenza, Newcastle disease, and other communicable avian diseases are a threat to public safety and health, and if undetected, these diseases may spread from backyard poultry flocks to wild birds, commercial poultry, and humans; and

WHEREAS, many people in the Philippines also share a tradition of raising backyard poultry flocks, and these poultry owners and enthusiasts in the Philippines have long recognized the importance of testing their poultry flocks for avian diseases, and thus, the Araneta Coliseum was constructed to include a model testing facility for poultry inspections; and

WHEREAS, despite the popularity and cultural traditions of backyard poultry in Hawaii, there is no comparable facility in Hawaii for testing or inspecting backyard flocks of free-range poultry for communicable avian diseases; and

WHEREAS, the existence of a poultry inspection facility for poultry owners who live on Hawaiian Home Lands could prevent the spread of potentially fatal avian diseases, as well as create jobs and have a positive economic impact in the State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is requested to convene a task force to study the feasibility of developing an arena and testing and inspection facility on Hawaiian Home Lands on Molokai as a pilot project for the purpose of testing backyard poultry flocks for avian diseases; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to study the potential economic, social, tourism, and health effects that would result from the construction of an arena and testing and inspection facility for backyard poultry flocks on Molokai; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is also requested to study the feasibility of developing similar arenas and testing and inspection facilities for backyard poultry flocks on Hawaiian Home Lands on other islands of the State, including the potential economic, social, tourism, and health effects that would result; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to consist of the following members:

(1) The Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, who shall serve as chairperson of the task force;

(2) Two members of the Molokai Game Fowl Association;

(3) One member of the Molokai Farmers Alliance;

(4) One member of Kalama'ula Mauka Homestead Association;

(5) One member of Kamiloloa Homestead Association;

(6) One member of Kaa'akea Homestead Association;

(7) One member of Hoolehua Homestead Agriculture Association; and

(8) One member of the Molokai Livestock Association; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report of its findings, including its recommendations and any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than one hundred eighty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to assist the task force with drafting any legislation proposed by the task force; provided that the chairperson of the task force submits a draft of the task force's proposals to the Legislative Reference Bureau for drafting in sufficient time to meet the task force's deadline for submittal of its report; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be dissolved upon the submission of its report to the Legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, who in turn is requested to transmit copies to the entities listed herein, and the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Poultry Inspection; Avian Diseases; Hawaiian Home Lands

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	283
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII