2023_01_17 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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SW: Deputy Corporation Counsel, Sylvia Wan – I will be reading into the record a bill for an act – this is proposed legislation that is yet to be introduced, I mean, relating to hunting and being 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 mammals 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.” 20