THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	21
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES dIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE TO OFFER FREE, ONLINE HUNTER EDUCATION COURSES OR ACCEPT THE COMPLETION OF CERTAIN ONLINE HUNTER EDUCATION COURSES IN PARTIAL SATISFACTION OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN A HUNTING LICENSE.

WHEREAS, roughly eleven thousand state hunting licenses have been sold annually over the past few years; and

WHEREAS, the number of non-resident hunting licenses have increased from about two hundred fifty sold in 2010 to seven hundred in 2016; and

WHEREAS, the retail sales of all hunting activities in the State have increased from about $17,000,000 in 2001 to roughly $52,000,000 in 2011; and

WHEREAS, enrollment and completion of a hunter education class is required to also obtain a hunter's certification card, which may satisfy part of the requirements to obtain a state hunting license; and

WHEREAS, each basic hunter education class offered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources includes twelve hours of instruction that may be stretched over two or three days; and

WHEREAS, individuals on standby may not be accepted even though they are required to arrive at the classroom on the first day of class at least one and one-half hours before instruction begins; and

WHEREAS, the National Rifle Association offers a free, online hunter education course to prospective hunters across the United States; and

WHEREAS, the free, online course teaches new participants to become safer and more responsible hunters; and

WHEREAS, the course is currently offered in Connecticut, Florida, and Oregon; and

WHEREAS, the course will offer more opportunities and flexibility for enrollment and completion for new hunters and further increase the sale of licenses and safe operation of firearms for hunting; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife is requested to offer free, online hunter education courses, in addition to other courses already approved by the State, or accept the completion of certain online hunter education courses in partial satisfaction of the requirements to obtain a hunting license in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Administrator of the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Land and Natural Resources; Division of Forestry and Wildlife; Hunter Education Course