Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2708, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Agriculture to quarantine and destroy species of animals susceptible to contagious, infectious, or communicable diseases and provide authority to require proper carcass disposal and disinfecting of premises.

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that with the recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth disease there is a heightened awareness of other highly contagious animal diseases. Certain national and international control measures for highly contagious animal diseases require the quarantine and destruction of animals that are susceptible to contraction of the disease. This measure allows the Department of Agriculture to implement these national and international disease control guidelines that are necessary to prevent the spreading of a contagious animal disease. Your Committee further recognizes that currently the Department of Agriculture and the federal government maintain oversight over the implementation of disease control measures, including the proper disposal of animal carcasses.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2708, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.