STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1040-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2247
                                     S.D. 1
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Energy and Environmental
Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 2247, S.D. 1,
entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FERAL ANIMALS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to find solutions and
compromises to the feral cat overpopulation problem by:

     (1)  Creating a task force to oversee the management and
          control of feral cat colonies in the State; and

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Health (DOH) to freeze the
          adoption of any rules relating to feral animals until
          the task force completes its discussions and
          recommendations.

     The Animal CARE Foundation, the Hawaii Cat Foundation,
Abandoned and Feral Cat Friends, Animal Rights Hawaii, the Oahu
Cat Coalition, and many individuals testified in support of this
measure.  DOH and the Hawaiian Humane Society testified in
support of the intent of this measure.  The Pacific Island
Ecosystems Research Center, the American Bird Conservancy, the
Hawaii Audubon Society, and many individuals opposed this
measure.  The Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Nature
Conservancy of Hawaii submitted comments.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1040-00
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     Your Committees find that the effects of feral cat
overpopulation are far-reaching, and a humane solution must be
found.  This measure facilitates open and inclusive dialogue that
is important to resolving this complex problem.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Broadening the purpose and findings section to include
          other concerns regarding the overpopulation of feral
          cats;

     (2)  Replacing the the representatives of the various
          branches of the United States armed forces to serve on
          the task force with one representative from the United
          States Pacific Command;

     (3)  Deleting from the task force:

          (A)  Representatives of property owners and managers;

          (B)  No fewer than five cat colony managers selected
               from a list of volunteers of colonies where the
               Trap/Neuter/Return Program is in place; and

          (C)  Other persons with interest in or expertise on
               feral cat overpopulation issues;

     (4)  Deleting the requirement that DOH freeze the adoption
          of any rules relating to feral animals until the task
          force completes its discussions and recommendations;
          and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for
          purposes of clarity and style.

     While representation on the task force has been reduced,
your Committees encourage all interested parties impacted by this
issue to provide input and to be a part of the solution.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Health and Energy and Environmental Protection that
are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with
the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2247, S.D. 1, as amended
herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form
attached hereto as S.B. No. 2247, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred
to the Committee on Finance.

 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1040-00
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                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Health and
                                   Energy and Environmental
                                   Protection,

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
HERMINA M. MORITA, Chair           ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair