Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 509 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to provide service dogs and their trainers equal access to places of public accommodation to train the service dog to behave appropriately in public places.

Hawaii Fido, Hawaii Canines for Independence, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. A concerned individual supported the intent of this bill. One concerned individual opposed this measure. The Disability and Communication Access Board and Hawaii Centers for Independent Living provided comments.

Your Committees note that it would be preferable to establish some of the provisions in this measure by rule rather than statute. However, several testifiers stated that although the Department of Human Services (DHS) is authorized to establish rules, they have not done so. Your Committees encourage DHS to address this important issue through the rulemaking process.

Your Committees have amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 509, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 509, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.