STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3659

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1922

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1922, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO WILDLIFE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Expand the Department of Land and Natural Resources' rulemaking authority to include any rule deemed necessary to protect certain wildlife; and

 

     (2)  Expand the Board of Land and Natural Resources' authority to timely adopt, amend, or repeal certain rules if the Board finds that the action is necessary to implement effective and adaptive management measures in response to impacted natural resources or in light of newly available technology or data.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

 

     Your Committee finds that administrative rules provide state agencies with direction to effectively carry out their mandates.  However, certain situations may arise that require timely action by state agencies, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to reflect emerging and rapidly advancing technology and data.  Therefore, the Board and Department of Land and Natural Resources should be provided with greater flexibility to adopt, amend, or repeal certain rules for effective management in the event of new technology or available data.  Accordingly, this measure will ensure that the Department of Land and Natural Resources has the flexibility necessary to ensure ongoing protection of natural resources and wildlife statewide.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1922, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1922, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair