Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 3121, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Director of Civil Defense to identify public shelters and private shelters that are suitable for sheltering pet animals.

Furthermore, this measure requires the Governor to establish criteria and conditions regarding the sheltering of pet animals in public shelters.

Your Committee acknowledges, and recent events have starkly shown, that when disaster strikes, many pet owners, worried about their pets' safety, may be dissuaded or delayed in seeking proper shelter, thus putting themselves in harm's way. Accordingly, your Committee finds that this measure is necessary to ensure the protection and safeguarding of human life in the event of a state emergency requiring evacuation to public emergency shelters. Your Committee further finds that this measure will clarify the Director's responsibilities in making shelters available for protecting pet animals during civil defense emergencies.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 3121, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.