STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1444

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.C.R. No. 221

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 221 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, BOARD OF VETERINARY EXAMINERS AND THE HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE PET PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR DOGS AND CATS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Board of Veterinary Examiners and the Hawaiian Humane Society implement a comprehensive pet protection program for dogs and cats. This program would require that all pet dealers furnish a complete medical history to a buyer upon the purchase of a dog or cat. Additionally, these pet dealers would be required to refund the purchase price or pay medical expenses to a customer who has purchased a pet that has a fatal or life threatening disease. 

Testimony in support of the concurrent resolution was submitted by The Humane Society of the United States, Animal Rights Hawai‘i, the Hawaiian Humane Society, the Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and private citizens.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by the American Kennel Club and concerned exhibitors and breeders from various clubs.  The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Board of Veterinary Examiners provided comments.

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce recommends the measure be amended by requesting that the Auditor conduct a sunrise analysis of the registration of pet dealers in Hawai‘i.  Accordingly, the title of this concurrent resolution has been amended to read:

REQUESTING A SUNRISE ANALYSIS FOR THE REGISTRATION OF PET DEALERS IN HAWAI‘I.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 221, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Judiciary in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 221, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair