STAND. COM. REP. NO.  231

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 1186

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1186 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect pet animals by prohibiting persons convicted of cruelty to animals in the first or second degree from possessing, owning, or residing with any pet animal for a minimum of five years and one year, respectively, from the date of conviction.

The Humane Society of the United States, Hawaiian Humane Society, West Hawaii Humane Society, Personalized Pet Care, Hui Pono Holoholona, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committee finds that while section 711-1110.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, authorizes courts to order the forfeiture of animals upon a person's conviction for certain animal cruelty offenses, there are cases where the court does not exercise this discretion and pet animals are left in the custody of persons who have committed serious acts of cruelty toward animals.  This measure would help ensure that those who have been convicted of cruelty to animals in the first or second degree will be denied the opportunity to cause future harm to their own pets.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the effective date to January 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion on this measure; and

     (2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments to correct grammatical errors.

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1186, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1186, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair