HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1902
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HUNTING.

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the enhancement and maintenance of public hunting opportunities is of critical importance to the State.  A coordinated effort involving stakeholders is needed to prevent and offset the loss, destruction, or degradation of public hunting areas on any island of the State and expeditiously find replacement land for hunting.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 183D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§183D-   No net loss of public hunting areas. (a)  The department shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the loss, destruction, or degradation of public hunting areas on any island of the State.  The department, if possible, shall preserve hunting land within public hunting areas that were designated on the respective island as of January 1, 2014, through a coordinated effort involving stakeholders.

(b)  If land within a public hunting area becomes unavailable for hunting, the department shall make reasonable efforts to acquire, restore, enhance, and manage public lands to replace the unavailable land with land that:

(1) Has wildlife habitat of equal or greater quantity and quality; and

(2) To the greatest extent possible, is located within the same geographic region and provides the same types of hunting that the department allowed on the unavailable land.

(c)  The department shall submit to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session an annual report that includes:

(1) The acreage managed by the department open to public hunting;

(2) The acreage managed by the department that has been closed to public hunting during the previous year and the reasons for the closures;

(3) An inventory of game bird and mammal populations in public hunting areas and the current conditions of the habitats in public hunting areas that support the game bird and mammal populations; and

(4) Efforts to acquire, restore, enhance, and manage public lands in accordance with subsection (b) to replace land within a public hunting area that becomes unavailable for hunting.

(d)  For the purposes of this section, "public hunting area" shall have the same meaning as defined in section 183D-4.

§183D-   Hunting advisory commission. (a)  There is established within the department a hunting advisory commission, which shall serve in an advisory capacity to the board.  The commission shall consist of eleven members to be appointed by the governor in the manner provided in section 26-34.  Membership on the advisory commission shall consist of two members of the department designated by the chairperson of the board, one member from the division of conservation and resource enforcement, one member of each county's hunting community, one member from the tourism industry, one member who is a scientist with expertise in the field of mammalogy or ornithology, one member representing the endangered species recovery committee, and one member possessing a background in native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices.  The commission shall select its own chairperson.  The members shall receive no compensation for their services on the commission but shall be entitled to reimbursement for necessary expenses while attending meetings and while in the discharge of their duties.

(b)  The commission shall advise the board on proposals to enhance and maintain the quantity and quality of public hunting areas.

(c)  The commission shall also advise the board on any matter affecting hunting, including proposed rules.  The commission may take testimony and acquire information as it desires and shall communicate its findings and recommendations to the board."

     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 2014-2015 for the administrative expenses of the hunting advisory commission established pursuant to section 2 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.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

Report Title:

DLNR; Hunting; No Net Loss; Hunting Advisory Commission; Report

Description:

Requires DLNR to make reasonable efforts to prevent and mitigate the loss, destruction, or degradation of public hunting areas.  Establishes the hunting advisory commission.  Requires DLNR to report to the legislature regarding public hunting lands.  Makes an appropriation.  Effective July 1, 2014.  (HB1902 HD2)

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