Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1512 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of the bill is to replace the term "law enforcement officer" with the term "peace officer."

The Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney and Honolulu Police Department submitted testimony supporting the bill, and suggesting amendments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by removing its substance and inserting new provisions.

Your Committee finds that police enforcement horses and dogs perform important public safety functions, and other jurisdictions have specific statutes providing criminal penalties for injuring or killing these animals. Your Committee believes that criminal penalties are appropriate for offenders who show a willingness to injure or kill these animals and thus use violence to evade capture. Restitution is also appropriate, because the purchase and proper training and maintenance of law enforcement dogs and horses involves a substantial outlay of time and resources.

Additionally, your Committee finds that government telecommunications systems provide police, fire, and other emergency services. Intentional interference with these types of communications can cause serious harm to the community, and should be prohibited.

Accordingly, your Committee has inserted into this bill, provisions that:

(1) Protect law enforcement animals;

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1512, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1512, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.