BILL REGARDING QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS GARNERS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE HAWAII STATE SENATE

HONOLULU—A bill to modify the requirements of quarantine has garnered support from state Senate leadership on both sides of the political aisle.

Co-sponsoring the bill is Senate Majority Floor Leader Cal Kawamoto (D-18 Pearl City- Manana-Waipahu) and Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings (R-25 Kailua-Waimanalo-Portlock).

"The bill, dubbed Ruby's Law, after a three-year-old miniature pinscher that died in quarantine in December, seeks to fix obsolete quarantine rules while providing safeguards to ensure that Hawaii remains rabies-free. State quarantine requirements have been particularly problematic for military families because of the high cost of confining their pets," Kawamoto said.

"The people of Hawaii have waited too long to get rid of this obsolete rule. This bipartisan effort should get it done this session. I am most pleased that Democrat Sen. Cal Kawamoto sees the wisdom in making this effort bipartisan," Hemmings added.

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

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