CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 81-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 3179

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 3179, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife to adopt rules and issue funds to licensed hunters at a per unit rate for feral axis deer herd management; and

(2) Appropriate funds to and establish three full-time equivalent technician positions for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to manage axis deer populations in Maui County.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the overpopulation of axis deer poses a significant threat to the ecological security and the health of local communities on several islands, including Maui County. Axis deer overpopulation and drought conditions on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai have led to large numbers of widespread axis deer, which in turn has created a nuisance and threat to the local community.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the appropriation to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for axis deer management;

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

(3) Making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3179, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3179, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair	____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE Chair
____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN Co-Chair
____________________________ SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO Co-Chair