Bill Text: HI SCR151 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Public Service Announcements; Hawaiian Monk Seals; Endangered Species

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-04-12 - (H) Referred to TRN/EEP/TCI, FIN, referral sheet 67 [SCR151 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-SCR151-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3083

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 151

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 151 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEVELOPMENT AND AIRING OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON COMMERCIAL PASSENGER AIR FLIGHTS TO THE STATE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CARING FOR THE STATE'S UNIQUE AND FRAGILE ECOSYSTEM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Hawaii Tourism Authority to work in cooperation with the Department of Transportation to develop and air public service announcements on commercial passenger air flights to the State.

 

     This measure also requests the Hawaii Tourism Authority to include in the public service announcements:

 

(1)  Information on the State's unique and fragile ecosystems;

 

     (2)  Recommendations for visitors and residents on how to care for the State's ecosystems;

 

     (3)  Information focusing on the Hawaiian monk seal and how to behave if encountered; and

 

     (4)  Information on applicable federal and state laws with regard to endangered species.

 

     There was no testimony on this measure.  However, testimony was received by the previous Committees, which may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     In 2008, the Hawaiian monk seal was designated as the State's mammal to increase awareness of it as an endangered species with the hope that this awareness would result in increased protection and its repopulation.  However, two recent incidents of intentionally killed monk seals on Kauai and one on Molokai have brought attention to the human threat to the seals.

 

     A comprehensive outreach program for Hawaii residents and visitors regarding the importance of the Hawaiian monk seal and other endangered Hawaiian flora and fauna needs to be firmly established.  Hawaii residents and visitors need ready-access to information on the State's unique and fragile ecosystems, recommendations on how to care for the State's ecosystems, and information on how to behave if one comes into contact with an Hawaiian monk seal.

 

     The Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Department of Transportation are in a unique position to implement a public awareness and educational campaign to inform incoming visitors about the endangered Hawaiian monk seal as well as the State's ecosystem.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 151 and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs,

 

		____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair