STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1244-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.C.R. No. 89

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 89 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO EXPLORE STRATEGIES TO ALLOW DOGS IN PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS AND BARS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Health to establish a working group to explore strategies and develop recommendations that will allow dogs to be welcomed in participating restaurants and bars while ensuring the health and safety of both humans and animals.

The Hawaiian Humane Society and several individuals supported this measure.  An individual opposed this measure.  The Department of Health and the Disability and Communication Access Board commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Deleting the Department of Health as the entity to establish the working group, and leaving the entity unspecified while further discussion ensues to determine the appropriate entity and whether a private, nonprofit organization can convene such a working group;

(2)  Also leaving blank the entity responsible for inviting certain participants to the working group and transmitting certified copies of the measure; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 89, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 89, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair