STAND. COM. REP. NO. 41

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 700

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 700 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the offense of cruelty to animals in the first degree to include certain indigenous birds.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, The Humane Society of the United States, Hawaiian Humane Society, West Hawaii Humane Society, and eight individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 and chapter 195D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, ensure the perpetuation of aquatic life, wild life, and land plants and their habitats by listing as endangered or threatened certain species of aquatic life, wild life, and land plants for protection and conservation.  However, there are indigenous species, such as the Laysan albatross, that are not deemed endangered or threatened and thus are not afforded the same federal and state protections as those listed species.  Your Committee further finds that after the deaths of several albatrosses at Kaena Point in December 2015, there is a need for heightened legal protections for Hawaii's indigenous birds specifically.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 700 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary and Labor.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair