STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1187-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 2208

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2208, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reduce animal overpopulation and encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their pets by establishing:

     (1)  The Spay and Neuter Special Fund to be used for spaying and neutering feral animals, education outreach, and preventing homeless animal overpopulation;

     (2)  An advisory committee to establish the eligibility criteria and procedures for disbursements from the Special Fund; and

     (3)  An income tax check-off from which proceeds are to be deposited into the Special Fund.

The Hawaiian Humane Society, Humane Society of the United States, West Hawaii Humane Society, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Taxation opposed this measure.  The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by leaving blank the dollar amounts related to the income tax check-off.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2208, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2208, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair