Bill Text: HI HB535 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Hunting.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-09 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kila, Lamosao excused (2). [HB535 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2023-HB535-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
535 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO hunting.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 183D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§183D- Game management areas; public hunting
areas; plan. (a)
The department shall develop a comprehensive plan for the management of
game management areas and public hunting areas.
The plan shall be in accordance with the principles and goals
established in section 183D-2(3) and shall provide for:
(1) The monitoring
of game mammal and game bird populations to ensure the populations are at
levels sufficient for hunting;
(2) Habitat
improvements for game mammals and game birds to ensure those species have
sufficient food, water, and refuge;
(3) The
preservation of game management areas; provided that the plans shall ensure
that whenever existing lands in game management areas are removed or fenced off
for conservation or other purposes, alternative lands of equivalent quality are
added to the State's inventory of game management area lands;
(4) Where
appropriate, the use of grazing and browsing game mammals for the purpose of grass
and weed control that benefits native ecosystems;
(5) The establishment
or expansion of youth and adult programs to promote hunting;
(6) The
establishment or expansion of programs to inform the public on the proper handling
and preparation of wild-caught meat;
(7) Increased
access to game management areas and public hunting areas, including through the
addition of available parking;
(8) Increased availability
of and greater access to
meat inspection sites and slaughter units for wild-caught meat,
including sites for certified
public hunters pursuant to section 183D-
; and
(9) The
establishment of incentives for local businesses to market wild game meat.
(b) The department shall post the game management
plan on its website and shall submit a copy of the plan to the legislature no
later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025. The department shall update the game management
plan at least once every five years thereafter and shall submit a copy of the
revised plan to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2030 and every fifth regular session
thereafter."
SECTION 2. Chapter 183D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§183D- Certified public hunter program; feral pig
control. (a)
The board shall establish a certified public hunter program, which
shall:
(1) Establish a
process to certify licensed hunters having the expertise to safely and humanely
control the population of feral pigs on private property and in residential
areas; provided that the board shall establish requirements and procedures for
certification by rule;
(2) Maintain a
registry of certified public hunters;
(3) Facilitate the
connection of certified public hunters with private landowners who wish to
remove feral pigs from their property;
(4) Authorize
certified public hunters to take, catch, pursue, or kill feral pigs on the
property of private landowners pursuant to paragraph (3);
(5) Implement ways
to subsidize or supplement the costs of certified public hunters participating
in the program; and
(6) Recommend and
implement habitat improvements in game management areas to draw feral pigs out
of residential areas for purposes of hunting.
(b) Notwithstanding chapter 134 to the contrary,
a certified public hunter acting under the authority of subsection (a)(4) may
use a licensed firearm solely for the purpose of safely and humanely
dispatching trapped wild pigs; provided that the board shall adopt rules to
regulate the use of firearms under this subsection.
(c) The board may adopt rules pursuant to chapter
91 necessary to implement this section.
(d) As used in this section, "certified public hunter" means a hunter who is certified pursuant to subsection (a)(1)."
SECTION 3. The department of land and natural resources
shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2024
that includes:
(1) A summary of the department's progress in creating the plan for the management of game management areas and public hunting areas;
(2) A summary of the board's progress in establishing a certified hunter program;
(3) Findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to:
(A) Subsidize or supplement the costs of certified public hunters participating in the certified hunter program;
(B) Increase the availability of and access to meat inspection sites and slaughter units for wild‑caught meat;
(C) Create incentives for local businesses to market wild game meat;
(D) Establish or expand youth and adult programs that promote hunting;
(E) Instruct the public on the proper handling and preparation of wild-caught meat; and
(F) Increase access to game management and public hunting areas, including through the addition of available parking; and
(4) Any other findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation.
SECTION 4. 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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish a certified public hunter program pursuant to section 2 of this Act.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
DLNR; BLNR; Game Management Plan; Certified Public Hunter Program; Establishment; Appropriations
Description:
Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to create and periodically update a game management plan. Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to establish a certified public hunter program to address the growing problem of wild pig populations in residential areas. Appropriates moneys.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
