Report Title:

Forfeiture of Pet Animals; Impoundment

Description:

Gives law enforcement officers authority to enter premises and impound a pet animal when there is probable cause to believe the pet animal is being subjected to cruel treatment. Allows a court to order the forfeiture of an impounded pet animal prior to and during a criminal action against its owner. (SB2924 HD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2924

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to cruelty to animals.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 711, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§711-A Authority to enter premises; notice of impoundment of animal; damage resulting from entry. (1) If there is probable cause to believe that a pet animal is being subjected to treatment in violation of section 711-1109 or 711-1109.3, a law enforcement officer, after obtaining a search warrant or in any other manner authorized by law, may enter the premises where the pet animal is located to provide the pet animal with food, water, and emergency medical treatment or to impound the pet animal. If after reasonable effort, the owner or person having custody of the pet animal cannot be found and notified of the impoundment, an impoundment notice shall be conspicuously posted on the premises and within seventy-two hours after posting, the notice shall be sent by certified mail to the address, if any, from which the pet animal was removed.

(2) A law enforcement officer is not liable for any damage resulting from an entry under subsection (1), unless the damage resulted from intentional or reckless behavior on behalf of the law enforcement officer.

(3) A court may order a pet animal impounded under subsection (1) to be held at a duly incorporated humane society or duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. A facility receiving the pet animal shall provide adequate food and water and may provide veterinary care.

(4) For purposes of this section, "law enforcement officer" shall have the same meaning as section 710-1000.

§711-B Forfeiture of animal prior to disposition of criminal charges. (1) If any pet animal is impounded pursuant to section 711-A, prior to final disposition of the criminal charge under section 711-1109 or 711-1109.3 against the pet animal's owner, any duly incorporated humane society or duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals that is holding the pet animal may file a petition in the criminal action requesting that the court issue an order for forfeiture of the pet animal to the county or to the duly incorporated humane society or duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals prior to final disposition of the criminal charge. The petitioner shall serve a true copy of the petition upon the defendant and the prosecuting attorney.

(2) Upon receipt of a petition pursuant to subsection (1), the court shall set a hearing on the petition. The hearing shall be conducted within fourteen days after the filing of the petition, or as soon as practicable.

(3) At a hearing conducted pursuant to subsection (2), the petitioner shall have the burden of establishing probable cause that the pet animal was subjected to a violation of section 711-1109 or 711-1109.3. If the court finds that probable cause exists, the court shall order immediate forfeiture of the pet animal to the petitioner, unless the defendant, within seventy-two hours of the hearing:

(a) Posts a security deposit or bond with the court clerk in an amount determined by the court to be sufficient to repay all reasonable costs incurred, and anticipated to be incurred, by the petitioner in caring for the pet animal from the date of initial impoundment to the date of trial; or

(b) Demonstrates to the court that proper alternative care has been arranged for the pet animal.

Notwithstanding subsection (3)(a), a court may waive, for good cause shown, the requirement that the defendant post a security deposit or bond.

(4) If a security deposit or bond has been posted in accordance with subsection (3)(a), the petitioner may draw from the security deposit or bond the actual reasonable costs incurred by the petitioner in caring for the pet animal until the date of final disposition of the criminal action. If the trial is continued to a later date, any order of continuance shall require the defendant to post an additional security deposit or bond in an amount determined by the court that shall be sufficient to repay all additional reasonable costs anticipated to be incurred by the petitioner in caring for the pet animal until the date of final disposition of the criminal action, and the petitioner may draw from the additional security deposit or bond as necessary.

(5) No pet animal may be destroyed by a petitioner under this section prior to final disposition of the criminal charge under section 711-1109 or 711-1109.3 against the pet animal's owner, except in the event that the pet animal is so severely injured that there is no reasonable probability that its life may be saved.

(6) Forfeiture of a pet animal under this section shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 712A."

SECTION 2. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

SECTION 3. In codifying the new sections added by section 1 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.