Bill Text: HI SB2911 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To State Snails.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-03-07 - Referred to CAI, JHA, referral sheet 16 [SB2911 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-SB2911-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2911 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to state snails.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's land snails have a significant
role in native ecosystems. Hawaii's land
snails act as fungivores that scrape fungus from plants to promote plant
health, decompose decaying material for plant nutrients, and are a major
component of intact watershed forest communities. These snails may also serve as a food source
for other native species. In Hawaiian
culture, snails such as kāhuli, pūpūkanioe, and pūpū kuahiwi
have a significant role in native songs, hula, and chants and are a symbol of
romance and omens. Furthermore, land
snails are among the most threatened of all animal groups in the world, with
more recorded extinctions than birds and mammals combined.
The legislature further finds
that designating certain species as official state snails that are emblematic of Hawaii will increase
awareness of the imperiled status and cultural and ecological relevance of all
Hawaiian land snails, preserve their cultural and ecological significance, and
encourage continued conservation of native Hawaiian invertebrates.
The
legislature also
finds that previous legislation in 2020 would have
designated a single species as the state snail and that, due to the geographic
variability of snails and their close ties to particular islands, the senate standing
committee on government operations invited the Bishop
Museum and department of land and natural resources
to suggest multiple snails species to be designated as official state snails to better represent the diversity of the Hawaiian Islands.
The
legislature finds that 2023 was proclaimed "Year of the Kāhuli", during which the Bishop Museum organized a statewide snail voting campaign to give voice to the community in deciding which snail species to recommend to the legislature to be
designated as the official state snail for each island. As a result, Hawaii's K-12 students and
community members from across the State voted to establish snails that are emblematic of the distinctive flora and fauna of the Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands and each island in Hawaii.
The purpose of this Act
is to designate official state snails based on the results
of the Bishop Museum community outreach and voting process.
SECTION 2. Chapter 5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§5- State
snails. (a)
Hini hini kua mauna (Succinea konaensis) is established and designated as
the official snail of the island of Hawai‘i.
(b) Pūpū kua mauna (Lyropupa striatula)
is
established and designated as the official snail of the island of Maui.
(c) Pūpū kua mauna (Pleuropoma laciniosa kahoolawensis)
is
established and designated as the official snail of the island of Kaho‘olawe.
(d) Pūpū kuahiwi (Auriculella lanaiensis)
is
established and designated as the official snail of the island of Lāna‘i.
(e) Pūpū kuahiwi (Laminella venusta)
is
established and designated as the official snail of the island of Moloka‘i.
(f) Kāhuli (Kaala subrutila) is established and
designated as the official snail of the island of O‘ahu.
(g) Erinna newcombi is established and
designated as the official snail of the island of Kaua‘i.
(h) Kahelelani‘ila‘ula (Collonista verruca)
is
established and designated as the official snail of the island of Ni‘ihau.
(i) Naka kua mauna (Endodonta christenseni) is established and
designated as the official snail of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands."
SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
State Snails; Designation
Description:
Designates certain snail species as official state snails.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
