STAND. COM. REP. NO. 337-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2193

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2193 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDLIFE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require all habitat conservation plans to include an agreement for plan participants to enter into and maintain an annual service contract with a stand-by and response facility available to provide emergency medical and rehabilitation services to native wildlife affected by activities undertaken within the plan area.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, one member of the Hawaii County Council, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Wildlife Center, Conservation Council for Hawaii, and seven individuals.

Your Committee acknowledges that Hawaii's unique ecosystem is under constant threat by natural and manmade causes and that habitat conservation plans are one means of mitigating against this threat. Your Committee finds that the annual service contract requirement could help to fulfill the requirement under existing law that each habitat conservation plan identify the steps that will be taken to minimize the impact of any incidental take to the maximum extent practicable.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2193, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2193, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair