STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2094

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3179

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 3179 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to direct the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a feral herd management pilot program under the Division of Forestry and Wildlife to manage axis deer populations in Maui County and appropriates funds to conduct a pilot program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; one member of the Maui County Council; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Maui County Farm Bureau; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the overpopulation of axis deer poses a significant threat to the ecological security and the health of local communities on several islands in Maui County. Integration of state management efforts and local hunting practices would allow for a more effective response to axis deer overpopulation, which has become a nuisance and threat to the local communities. To address concerns from the overpopulation of axis deer across Hawaii, this measure will appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife to conduct a pilot program for feral herd management on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a blank appropriation amount;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3179, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3179, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair