STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1534

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 635

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 3

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 635, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect law enforcement animals in the line of duty by creating the offenses of cruelty to a law enforcement animal in the first and second degree, establishing penalties, providing exceptions to the offenses, providing for affirmative defenses, and providing for restitution to affected parties.

The Department of Public Safety, Honolulu Police Department, Humane Society of the United States-Hawaii, West Hawaii Humane Society, and a concerned individual supported this measure.  The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu and the Hawaiian Humane Society offered comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to promote further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 635, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 635, S.D. 1, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair