STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3464

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 82

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.R. No. 82, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION TO PROHIBIT INDIVIDUALS FROM APPROACHING WITHIN FIFTY FEET OF A HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL EXCEPT WHEN PROVIDING AID TO THE HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to prohibit individuals from approaching within fifty feet of a Hawaiian monk seal except when providing aid to the Hawaiian monk seal.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaiian monk seal is one of the world's most critically endangered species of marine mammal. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has reported that a number of habituated seals have become a serious safety risk to humans, or have suffered injuries as a result of human infringement and interaction. Your Committee further finds that Hawaiian monk seals are protected by the Endangered Species Act, which makes it illegal under federal law to harass the seals. To provide protection for Hawaiian monk seals from human interaction, this measure urges the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to prohibit individuals from approaching within fifty feet of a Hawaiian monk seal unless the individual is a licensed professional who is qualified to provide aid to the seal.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 82, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair