HB 544 Summary

• Requires the State of Hawaii Plant and Animal Declaration Form to be distributed electronically (rather than in paper form) to passengers, officers, and crew members prior to debarkation.

• Mandates that completed declaration forms be transmitted electronically to the inspector prior to debarkation of passengers or baggage, replacing the previous requirement for physical collection and delivery.

• Makes various grammatical and clarifying changes to Hawaii Revised Statutes § 150A-5, including replacing "such" with more specific terms like "the" or "another."

• Maintains existing importation requirements for plants, animals, soil, microorganisms, and related materials, including notification procedures, inspection authority, disinfection protocols, and quarantine procedures.

• Takes effect on June 30, 3000.