HI HR120

Speaker of the House is requested to convene a task force to investigate and make recommendations regarding legal and illegal ivory sales in Hawaii.

Task force composition includes the Chairperson of the House Standing Committee on Judiciary, Chairperson of the House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Business, a Department of the Attorney General representative, a Hawaiian Humane Society representative, and other members at the Speaker's discretion.

African ivory is currently legal to sell in Hawaii if imported before 1990 or is at least 100 years old at time of import and unaltered since, making it difficult to distinguish legitimate sales from illegal ivory trafficking.

Task force must report findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2015 Regular Session convenes.

Resolution cites the 2013 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species documenting elephant slaughter at crisis levels and notes the difficulty of determining ivory age or origin without scientific laboratory examination.