STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1311

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 134

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 134 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING ALL ACTIVE, RESERVE, AND GUARD COMPONENTS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND THE ACTIVE AND RESERVE COMPONENTS OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD TO MAKE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO IMPROVE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUAL CARE FOR THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS OWNED BY MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND UNITED STATES COAST GUARD WHO ARE REQUIRED TO DEPLOY OR RELOCATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage all services of the United States military and the United States Coast Guard to convene a working group with local animal shelters and rescue organizations and make resources available to help provide continual care for domestic animals owned by members of the military and Coast Guard who are required to deploy or relocate out of the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Cat Foundation, Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and twelve individuals.

     Your Committee finds that most members of the military and Coast Guard who deploy or relocate want to ensure that their pets will be cared for during their absence, and they wish to be reunited with their pets when they return.  However, some members of the military and Coast Guard relinquish their pet to a local shelter, or worse, abandon the animal because they have no one available to care for it.  With many thousands of members of the military and Coast Guard stationed in Hawaii, the need to provide continual care for pets owned by deploying or relocating service members is magnified.  Your Committee finds that this measure begins the process of addressing this issue.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 134, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair