HI HB576

Requires the department of land and natural resources, department of agriculture, city and county of Honolulu, and counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai to collaborate on feral chicken management projects to control populations and mitigate impacts on native habitats, ecosystems, wildlife, agriculture, and communities.

Establishes a secondary goal of generating a viable food source from feral chickens to assist in feeding Hawaii's houseless and hungry populations.

Mandates feral chicken management programs include ante- and post-mortem inspections, slaughtering and processing capabilities, safe handling practices, incentive programs for live humane capture, and disease minimization mechanisms.

Requires identification of funding mechanisms including seed money sources, public-private partnerships, hunting fees, farm sales, cost recovery methods, and grant funding such as Clean Water Act funds.

Appropriates funds for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to establish one full-time natural resources management specialist position for feral chicken management; effective June 30, 3000.