STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2172

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 168

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 168 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SOURCES AND MEANS OF FUNDING AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR AND HELP MAINTAIN THE HAWAII WILDLIFE CENTER FACILITY AND HAWAII'S ENDANGERED WILDLIFE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health to convene a task force to evaluate and identify potential sources and means of funding available to provide support for and help maintain the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center facility and Hawaii's endangered wildlife.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor, Hawai‘i Wildlife Center, O‘ahu County Democrats Legislative Priorities Committee, and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that preparing for and responding to oil spill emergencies that harm native wildlife is critical to the overall well-being of the State. The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center is the only facility in the State that meets all minimum requirements for accommodating large-scale rescue and rehabilitation efforts targeting sick, injured, or oiled wildlife. The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center provides professional, state-of-the-art treatment for Hawaiian wildlife affected by contamination, disease, and injury. Additionally, the Center's staff has the experience and capability to manage wildlife-related response, including assessment, training, mobilization, supervision, facilities' management, and wildlife capture, handling, stabilization, and transportation. Accordingly, your Committee finds that forming a task force to research additional funding sources to help maintain the work of the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center is in the best interests of the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the Chairperson's designee, as a co-chair of the task force;

(2) Requesting the task force to also consider grant-in-aid funding pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as an additional funding source for the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center;

(3) Amending its title; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 168, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 168, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair