Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2930, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is clarify that animal care costs incurred for abused or neglected animals will be the responsibility of the abuser.

This measure clarifies who will be financially responsible for the expenses incurred for the feeding, housing, and care of abused or neglected animals. These animals are often left in the custody of humane societies while the court resolves the criminal case against the abuser. This often takes months or even years to be resolved, leaving the animals to be cared for at the humane society's expense. The need for this type of legislation was exemplified by the $269,000 bill the Hawaiian Humane Society incurred for the care of approximately sixty-nine dogs that were rescued from a breeder in Kahaluu. Although the breeder pled guilty to fifty-five counts of animal cruelty, the breeder was not required to reimburse the Hawaiian Humane Society. This measure will make it clear that it is the abuser who is financially responsible for the care of these animals.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure to require, rather than authorize, the court to order the defendant to reimburse the caregiver for the care of the animals, as provided in the Senate's version of the measure. Your Committee on Conference has also limited the reimbursement to reasonable costs incurred.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2930, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2930, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.