STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3655

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 34

       H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 34, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF BOTH DECOMMISSIONING AND RELOCATING THE ANIMAL QUARANTINE STATION IN HALAWA VALLEY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Agriculture to examine the feasibility of decommissioning and relocating the animal quarantine station in Halawa Valley.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

     Your Committee finds that the Rabies Quarantine Program prevents the entry of dogs, cats, and other carnivores with the rabies virus to maintain Hawaii's status as the only state in the nation that is rabies-free.  In 2003, the Direct Airport Release Program was introduced and has reduced the number of dogs and cats housed at the Animal Quarantine Station by allowing dogs and cats meeting specified requirements to no longer require quarantine and be released directly from the airport upon entering Hawaii.  In 2015, approximately eighty-nine percent of animals qualified for release after inspection.  Your Committee further finds that the facilities at the Animal Quarantine Station were constructed in the early 1980s when the Rabies Quarantine Program required that all dogs and cats entering Hawaii be quarantined for 120 days and currently houses 200 to 280 dogs and cats daily.  Your Committee finds that the relocation and decommissioning of the Animal Quarantine Station may result in increased efficiencies of the Department of Agriculture and therefore finds examination of the feasibility of such actions to be warranted.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 34, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair