Bill Text: HI HB1721 | 2022 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To Feral Animal Management.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-03-21 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. [HB1721 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-HB1721-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1721
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO FERAL ANIMAL MANAGEMENT.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the imbalance of feral animals in the State is wreaking havoc on the environment, agriculture, and communities.  As the frequency of storms and severe droughts increases, so will the impact of feral animals.  The populations of wild pigs on Hawaii island, axis deer on Maui, and certain non-native species of birds on Oahu and Kauai are evidence of the growing problem.  The legislature further finds that proactive long-term and short-term measures are needed to address the issue.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the department of land and natural resources and department of agriculture to collaborate on feral animal management; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds for a natural resources management specialist position related to feral animal management.

SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of land and natural resources and department of agriculture shall collaborate on feral animal management projects to manage feral animal populations; mitigate the impacts of feral animals on native habitats and ecosystems; and reduce their disturbance to indigenous species of wildlife and land plants, agriculture, and communities.  A secondary goal of feral animal management shall be to generate a viable source of food to assist in feeding the State's houseless or hungry; provided that a species' inappropriateness as a food source shall not alone prevent the species from being targeted.

     (b)  Feral animal management shall:

     (1)  Manage the identified feral animal populations and implement species-specific goals, to include:

          (A)  Best management practices for population management, with practices that are appropriate for public and private lands with various land uses;

          (B)  Minimization of diseased and starving feral species due to uncontrolled population growth;

          (C)  Programs to assist population management of species that threaten agricultural viability;

          (D)  A program to encourage the beneficial use of carcasses, including retail and nonprofit options for feeding the houseless and hungry, which shall include:

               (i)  Authority and capacity for ante- and post-mortem inspections, slaughtering, and processing of the animals; and

              (ii)  Best management practices for the safe handling of a carcass from the time the animal is caught to the time it is processed;

          (E)  Approaches depending on whether the feral animals are on public or private land, including access agreements, legal authorizations, and liability concerns;

          (F)  Consultation with the office of Hawaiian affairs and the department of Hawaiian home lands when feral animals are on their lands;

          (G)  Practices to reduce reef sedimentation through feral animal management;

          (H)  Implementation of milestones and timeframes proposed in existing plans for management of targeted species, including plans to adapt management goals as needed to keep populations from rebuilding; and

          (I)  Partnering with state and county agencies and other collaborators, including federal partners and resources, responsible for each action;

     (2)  Pursue funding mechanisms to support feral animal management, including:

          (A)  Sources of seed money to develop and initiate programs;

          (B)  Public-private partnerships to reduce reliance on public funds;

          (C)  Hunting fees and other cost recovery methods to subsidize costs; and

          (D)  Potential public and private grant funding to facilitate implementation, such as Clean Water Act funding to assist with practices to reduce reef sedimentation; and

     (3)  Address any other matters deemed appropriate by the department of land and natural resources and department of agriculture.

SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) natural resources management specialist position related to feral animal management.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that section 3 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

 

 

 

Report Title:

Feral Animal Management; DLNR; DOA; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the department of land and natural resources and department of agriculture to collaborate on feral animal management.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/2050.  (HD1)

 

 

 

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