STAND. COM. REP. NO.  46

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 55

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 55 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect dogs by prohibiting the use of certain restraints and tethers that endanger or deny sustenance to a dog and specifies penalties for violations.

Animal Rights Hawaii, Hawaiian Humane Society, Hawaii Island Humane Society, Humane Society of the United States, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Pacific Pet Alliance opposed this measure.  Pele Lani Farm LLC and a few concerned individuals provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 31, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

     Should the Committee on Judiciary deliberate this measure further, your Committee on Agriculture respectfully requests that it consider looking into House Bill No. 151, Relating to Offenses Involving the Confinement or Restraint of Dogs, and House Bill No. 1298, Relating to Animals, for additional amendments to further augment this measure.  Your Committee notes, however, that this measure is the preferred vehicle to prevent the use of certain restraints and tethers for dogs.

     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 H.B. No. 55, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 55, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair