STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1081-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2026

      S.D. 1

      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 Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2026, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect dogs and cats by establishing the misdemeanor offense of cruelty to animals by slaughtering or trafficking dogs or cats for human consumption.

The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaiian Humane Society, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Save An Animal, Animal Rights Hawaii, and a number of concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Humane Society of the United States and Pacific Pet Alliance supported this measure with amendments.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by, among other things:

(1) Specifying that the offense covers pet animals, rather than just dogs and cats, and making conforming amendments;

(2) Clarifying that other laws may be applicable to the circumstances relating to the offense established by this bill;

(3) Exempts from the offense, the lawful slaughter of animals as permitted by the Department of Agriculture; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2026, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2026, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair