STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1175

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 9

      S.D. 1

      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 S.B. No. 9, S.D. 1, 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 Honolulu Police Department, The Humane Society of the United States, Hawaiian Humane Society, Hawaiian Kennel Club, Golden Retriever Club of Hawaii, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that persons convicted of cruelty to animals are prohibited from possessing, owning, or residing with any animals involved in the offense, rather than any pet animal;

     (2)  Lowering the minimum number of years that persons convicted of cruelty to animals in the first degree are prohibited from possessing, owning, or residing with animals from five years to two years;

     (3)  Clarifying that the definition of "person" for purposes of the offense of cruelty to animals in the second degree includes legal as well as natural persons;

     (4)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

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

     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 S.B. No. 9, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 9, 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair