THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1261
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE WILDLIFE VIOLATOR COMPACT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact is a multistate agreement that promotes enforcement of hunting, fishing, trapping, and other wildlife related regulations across jurisdictions. For example, the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact could prevent wildlife violators who have lost their hunting, fishing, trapping, or other wildlife related privileges in other member states from obtaining a hunting license in Hawaii. Similarly, persons who have been punished with license revocation in Hawaii would be unable to avoid this punishment by engaging in those activities in another state. The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact also establishes a process by which nonresident wildlife law violators can be treated as state residents for purposes of law enforcement, thereby easing the administrative burden on the enforcement agency and reducing enforcement gaps that may allow the violator to fail to comply with the terms of the citation. Reciprocity agreements such as the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact are an important part of any law enforcement effort.

The legislature also finds that the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact is modeled after the successful multistate driver license compact and nonresident violator compact. Hawaii is party to both compacts.

The legislature additionally finds that forty-eight states have passed legislation necessary to join the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact. Existing member states to the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact have reported little to no added costs or administrative burdens associated with participating in the compact. The information system that facilitates participation is available for a nominal annual fee of $500 to member states.

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the department of land and natural resources to enter into the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact or similar agreement for mutual assistance in the enforcement of wildlife laws.

SECTION 2. Chapter 183D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§183D-   Interstate wildlife violator compact. (a) The department may enter into the interstate wildlife violator compact or similar agreement, whether in the form of a memorandum of understanding, written agreement, or mutual aid compact, with an appropriate state, federal, or foreign entity for mutual assistance in the enforcement of hunting, fishing, and other wildlife laws, rules, or regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

(b) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary for enforcement of the agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a)."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact

Description:

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enter into the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact or similar agreement for mutual assistance in the enforcement of wildlife laws. (SD2)

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