STAND. COM. REP. NO. 303-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1862

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1862 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the Department of Land and Natural Resources from establishing or implementing bag limits on game mammals in public hunting areas.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Hawaiian Reforestation Program, and one individual. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from Babooze Bowstrings, Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Hawaii Sportsmen's Alliance, Hawaii Sportsman Association, Animal Rights Hawaii, Hawaii Hunting Association, The Society for Hawaii Heritage Animals, Big Island Bird Hunters, and numerous individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

Your Committees find that populations of game mammals are growing throughout the State. Game mammals can cause damage to the environment when they are proliferating in environments to which they are not native and in which they have no predators.

Your Committees have amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1862, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1862, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair

____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair