Hawaii-2023-HB535-Amended

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.

(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 of land and natural resources' 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;

(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 June 30, 3000.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	535
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII