SB1262.DOC

SECTION 1. (a) There is established within the department of land and natural resources for administrative purposes only the cat and wildlife task force to develop recommendations to the legislature concerning free roaming cats and their impacts on native wildlife.

(b) The task force shall include the following voting members:

(1) One representative from the department of land and natural resources, forestry and wildlife division;

(2) One representative from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(3) One representative from the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife;

(4) One representative from each county humane society contracted by a county to provide animal care and control services;

(5) One Hawaii licensed veterinarian specializing in large-scale spay-neuter of pets;

(6) One representative from a national wildlife protection organization; and

(7) One representative from a national animal protection organization.

(1) An individual from a private organization or university not affiliated with any of the agencies or organizations represented by a voting member, who shall be approved by a majority of the voting members and shall serve as the task force facilitator;

(2) A representative of the senate committee on agriculture and environment;

(3) A representative of the senate committee on water and land;

(4) A representative of the house committee on agriculture;

(5) A representative of the house committee on water and land; and

(6) Any additional non-voting advisory members as determined by the voting members of the task force.

(d) The task force shall:

(1) Identify common goals and objectives to humanely reduce outdoor cat populations;

(2) Identify the roles and responsibilities of county, state, and federal agencies in humanely reducing outdoor cat populations;

(3) Recommend any necessary actions, including but not limited to mapping the State to identify highly sensitive, native wildlife habitats with documented cat predation and identifying appropriate management methods including humane removal, exclusion fencing, community outreach, and public education campaigns;

(4) Review policy recommendations and statutes from other states or municipalities and make recommendations for future relevant legislation at the state or county level; and

(5) Provide estimates for any necessary funding to carry out the identified recommendations.

The task force shall be exempt from chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and shall act in an advisory capacity to address concerns of free roaming cats and their impacts on native wildlife. The task force shall meet not less than five times and not use a public facility for its meetings.

(e) Not including the facilitator, the members of the task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(f) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2018. The report shall be posted on a state-sponsored website. The task force shall provide notice and hold a public hearing within thirty days of submission of the report to the legislature for purposes of public comment on the findings and recommendations of the task force.

(g) The task force shall cease to exist on June 30, 2018.

SECTION 2. 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 2017-2018 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to cover professional fees and services for the designated non-voting facilitator of the cat and wildlife task force.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1262
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII