THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2755
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PUEO RESEARCH.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the pueo, or Hawaiian short-eared owl, is an endemic subspecies of the short-eared owl commonly referred to as the "bird of wisdom" that is believed to offer guidance and protection. The pueo also has a special place in Hawaii's culture and is revered by ancient Hawaiians as an ‘aumakua, or ancestral guardian, for many Hawaiian families. Pueo are the only native raptors that occur across the islands and play an important and unique ecological role. Because of the cultural significance and potential ecological benefits of the pueo, it is important to evaluate the conservation status of the pueo across the state.

Pueo are currently protected on O‘ahu as "endangered" under state law due to low population numbers, but a comprehensive assessment on all of the main Hawaiian islands has never been conducted.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of land and natural resources to conduct, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources, a state-wide species assessment of pueo.

SECTION 2. (a) There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the department of land and natural resources to conduct, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources, a species assessment on the pueo statewide, including the hiring of necessary staff, equipment, and dissemination of research; provided that the sum appropriated shall include:

(1) $           for vehicles and supplies;

(2) $           for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) lead researcher and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) technician;

(3) $           for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) volunteer coordinator; and

(4) $           for overhead costs.

(b) The studies shall be conducted in each county in a sequence of phases, with the next phase to begin upon completion of the previous phase, as follows:

(1) City and county of Honolulu;

(2) County of Hawaii;

(3) County of Kauai; and

(4) County of Maui.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Pueo; Study; Department of Land and Natural Resources; University of Hawaii; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, a state-wide assessment of pueo conservation status.

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