Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2062 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require veterinarians to report known or suspected cases of animal cruelty to any society dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals or to a law enforcement officer.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Hawaiian Humane Society and two private citizens.

Your Committee agrees with the testimony of the Hawaiian Humane Society that veterinarians are trained professionals who are entrusted with the care of the community's animals. They are the most likely to see an animal's injuries and to ascertain if abuse or neglect caused those injuries.

Your Committee finds that mandatory reporting by veterinarians enables early intervention to prevent further abuse.

Your Committee has amended this measure by allowing persons other than veterinarians to report and to provide similar immunity to them.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2062, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2062, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.