CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 35

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2017

RE:    H.B. No. 1516

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1516, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to protect the welfare of pet and equine animals by:

     (1)  Permitting duly incorporated humane societies and duly incorporated societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals to petition in court for full custody of an impounded pet animal or equine animal prior to the filing of certain criminal charges against the owner or custodian of the pet animal or equine animal;

     (2)  Allowing a pet animal or equine animal to be destroyed by the petitioner prior to final disposition of certain criminal charges if the pet animal or equine animal is a danger to itself or others; and

     (3)  Specifying that an acquittal or dismissal in a criminal proceeding does not preclude civil proceedings under animal cruelty offenses.

     After careful consideration, your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to upon its approval; and

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

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1516, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1516, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN Chair	____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN Co-Chair
	____________________________ SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO Co-Chair