Governor signs feral bird feeding bill, vetoes 3 others

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has vetoed three bills,  but he signed another bill that outlaws the excessive feeding of feral birds as a public health nuisance., his office announced today.

All of the vetoes will stand, as lawmakers had no plans to call a special one-day session to override any of the measures.

Lawmakers said the governor signed the feral bird feed bill on Monday.

This new law, which takes effect immediately, will help people suffering from the smell and health problems created when their neighbors feed large flocks of pigeons, said state Rep. Gregg Takayama, a Democrat who represents Pearl City and Waimalu.

“This law will help provide welcome relief to Pearl City residents who have been plagued for years by neighbors whose excessive and inconsiderate bird feeding has attracted flocks of several hundred pigeons, whose droppings and feathers create odors, property damage and aggravation of health problems,” Takayama said in a statement.

Some Kailua residents have also had similar problems.

The rejected measures include: House Bill 654, to include members of professional health organizations on the Center of Nursing Advisory Board; HB 763, modifying the composition and quorum of the Hawaii State Building Code Council and revising the state Building Code; and HB 988, amending the Environmental Response Revolving Fund to include support for a standby operations center in response to an oil- or fuel-related disaster.

The three were among nine bills that the governor had singled out for potential vetoes.

All other bills on that list will become law without the governor’s signature. 

In all, Abercrombie will allow 12 bills to become law without his signature — five on the veto list plus seven others, his office said. A total of 269 bills were signed into law, including one of the intended veto targets, HB619, which would make feeding feral birds a nuisance

.The measures that will become law without the governor’s signature, include one that would provide for a nonpartisan primary as well as a general election for Office of Hawaiian Affairs board members.

Currently, there’s no primary election for OHA board members, only a general election.

“We will look back at 2013 as the year that launched truly transformative measures that will have lasting positive impacts on the future of our state,” Abercrombie said in a statement.