BI-PARTISAN QUARANTINE BILL SLATED FOR JOINT HEARING IN THE HAWAII STATE SENATE

HONOLULU—The joint Senate Committees on Water, Land and Agriculture and Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations will hear a bill to modify the requirements of quarantine on Friday, February 14, 2003 at 1:15 PM in the state Capitol conference room 224.

Co-sponsoring the bill are Senate Majority Floor Leader Cal Kawamoto (District-18 Pearl City-Manana-Waipahu) and Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings (District-25 Kailua-Waimanalo-Hawaii Kai). Kawamoto is also the chairman of the transportation committee.

"The quarantine system, in its present form, is archaic and useless. It's just a way to collect inflated fees to support state bureaucracy. Inoculations exist that will ensure safety precautions to keep Hawaii rabies-free, just as what is currently being done in other jurisdictions. The current quarantine system is based on 1912 science," Hemmings said.

The bill requires that all animals entering the state have a microchip for identification, a current rabies vaccination, a health certificate, and a blood test for rabies antibodies conducted within the last year. The measure, also known as Ruby's Law, was named after a three-year-old miniature pinscher that died in quarantine in December.

"If you were to visit the facility, you'll see that at least two-thirds of the facility sits empty. These empty kennels and catteries could be contracted to the private sector to serve as boarding facilities for animals," Hemmings stated.

Hawaii's quarantine requirements were established in 1912 to prevent animals affected with rabies from entering the state.

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