STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1632-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.C.R. No. 65

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 65 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO DEVELOP A CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR HUNTERS TO BECOME CERTIFIED INSPECTORS IN ORDER TO INSPECT THEIR OWN GAME FOR SALE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, to develop a certification process for hunters to become certified inspectors in order to inspect their own game for sale.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two members of the Maui County Council, Maui Chamber of Commerce, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that axis deer are thriving on Maui and Molokai and number in the tens of thousands. With no natural predators and an ample food supply, this invasive species is causing havoc to the environment and millions in damage annually. Axis deer threaten native forests, damage agricultural crops and native and ornamental vegetation, cause erosion, and cause traffic accidents. Your Committee also finds that although hunting axis deer is a significant part of the hunting culture on certain islands, selling the meat is time-consuming and challenging as the meat must first be inspected by a United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service inspector. Deer meat is not under the Federal Meat Inspection Act like beef but instead falls under voluntary inspection by the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. Without a state meat inspection program and with few Food Safety Inspection Service employees in the State, providing hunters the opportunity to become certified inspectors will expedite the meat inspection process and help to limit the overpopulation of axis deer in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Department of Agriculture is requested to work with the federal government to develop the certification process;

(2) Amending its title in accordance with its intended purpose; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 65, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 65, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair