STAND. COM. REP. NO.  360

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1589

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1589 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUNTING SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the safety of hunters in Hawaii by authorizing:

     (1)  Licensed hunters who comply with state firearms law to possess and use firearm noise suppressors while hunting; and

     (2)  The manufacture and sale of firearm noise suppressors for licensed hunters who comply with state firearms law.

Lessons in Firearms Education, Hawaii Rifle Association, Hunting Farming and Fishing Association, American Suppressor Association, Babooze Bowstrings, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc., Hawaii Sportsmen's Alliance, Institute for Rational and Evidence-based Legislation, National Rifle Association of America, Hawaii Hunting Association, Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawaii, Gay & Robinson, Inc., Niihau Ranch LLC, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Honolulu Police Department, Animal Rights Hawaii, Save An Animal, and many concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Land and Natural Resources and several concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1589, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1589, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair