STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3101

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3179

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3179, S.D. 1, 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 establish a pilot program to provide feral herd management on the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lanai.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish a pilot program to issue moneys to licensed hunters for feral herd population management; and

(2) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish the pilot program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, a member of the Maui County Council, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Kalamaula Mauka Homestead Association, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Maui County Farm Bureau, Molokai Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that feral axis deer destroy crops and pasture lands by devouring living vegetation. Your Committee also finds that feral axis deer populations have increased dramatically, especially in the County of Maui. Accordingly, your Committee believes that this measure will help to mitigate the ecological and financial damage caused by feral axis deer.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the intent of the pilot program is to manage feral axis deer herds;

(2) Clarifying that the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources is required to consult with the Department of Agriculture on the development and management of the pilot program;

(3) Amending the appropriation to include the purchase of equipment and establishment of three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) technician positions within the Maui Branch of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair