Report Title:

Cruelty to Animals; Hoarding Pets

Description:

Makes it a misdemeanor to hoard pet animals.  Establishes elements of the offense.  (SB3203 SD1)

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3203
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO ANIMAL HOARDING.

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

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

"§711- Animal hoarding. (1)  A person commits the offense of animal hoarding if the person:

(a) Negligently possesses more than a typical number of pet animals;

(b) Negligently fails or is unable to provide necessary sustenance for each pet animal; and

(c) Displays an inability to recognize or understand the nature of, or has reckless disregard for, the conditions under which the pet animals are living and the deleterious impact the conditions have on the pet animals' and owner's health and well-being.

(2)  Animal hoarding is a misdemeanor."

     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.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.