STAND. COM. REP. NO. 487

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1262

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 1262 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDLIFE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Establish the Cat and Wildlife Task Force to make recommendations to the Legislature regarding the humane reduction of free-roaming cat populations and their impacts on wildlife; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to cover professional fees and services for the facilitator of the task force.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Humane Society of the United States, Neighborhood Cats, Conservation Council of Hawai‘i, Hawaiian Humane Society, West Hawaii Humane Society, Hawaii Island Humane Society, SPCA Maui, and nineteen individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter, Best Friends Animal Society, Animal Rights Hawaii, Save an Animal, Aloha Animal Advocates, Hawaii Cat Foundation, SPCA Kauai, Kauai Community Cat Project, Hui Pono Holoholona, Daze of Camelot Animal Sanctuary, Love a Cat Charity, For Forgotten Felines, and forty individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service, American Bird Conservancy, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Rainbow Friends Animal Sanctuary, and seven individuals.

     Your Committee finds that feral cats have a negative impact on native wildlife and pose a health risk to humans; however, discussions regarding methods to mitigate the impact of feral cats are controversial and emotional.  The Kaua‘i Feral Cat Task Force, convened in 2014, has led the most successful effort to date to utilize the recommendations of wildlife advocates and cat advocates in identifying potential solutions to mitigate the impacts of feral cats.  However, that task force took over seven months to complete its work, countless participants, and in excess of $30,000 in expenses.  Your Committee finds that the most efficient use of state resources is to direct the Department of Land and Natural Resources to take into consideration the conclusions and recommendations of the Kaua‘i Feral Cat Task Force when setting department policy regarding feral cats.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the establishment of the Cat and Wildlife Task Force;

     (2)  Deleting the appropriations for the Cat and Wildlife Task Force;

     (3)  Requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources to take into consideration the conclusions and recommendations of the Kaua‘i Feral Cat Task Force when setting department policy regarding feral cats; and

     (4)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1262, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1262, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair