Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 204, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate general funds for deposit into the animal quarantine special fund to reduce quarantine user fees.

The bill also waives repayment to general fund of revenues used to establish animal quarantine special fund.

Your Committee finds that Act 210, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998, created a special fund for the animal quarantine program to enable it to become self-supporting. However, despite setting markedly higher animal quarantine fees, the animal quarantine program has not been able to achieve self-sufficiency.

Your Committee finds that the high quarantine fees are extremely burdensome for persons who wish to bring their pets to Hawaii. This extra burden hits military personnel and their families the hardest, as these persons often have no choice in where they are required to move. Recognizing the inequity of this situation, the Legislature, in fiscal year 2000-2001, appropriated funds to offset the high animal quarantine fees. Given the animal quarantine program's continuing inability to achieve self-sufficiency, your Committee believes that it is appropriate to appropriate funds for the same purpose this session.

Your Committee has amended this bill by changing the amount appropriated to $1 to promote continuing discussions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 204, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 204, S.D. 2.