STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1518

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 416

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 416, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SECTION 711-1109, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit:

(1) Specified trolleys, trolleys with swivels, pulleys, cables, or running lines designed to attach a dog to two stationary objects in a configuration that endangers the dog, including by depriving the dog of sustenance;

(2) Tethering or restraining a dog under the age of six months unless the dog is engaged in an activity supervised by its owner or an agent of its owner;

(3) Tethering or restraining a dog with a tow or log chain; and

(4) Tethering or restraining a dog with a choke collar, pinch collar, or prong collar unless the dog is engaged in an activity supervised by its owner or an agent of its owner.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Humane Society of the United States, Hawaiian Humane Society, Healthy Pets United, Animal Rights Hawai‘i, Domestic Violence Hurts Animals and People, Pono Advocacy, Animal Interfaith Alliance in Britain, and forty-one individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that tethering a dog in manners that cause injuries; preventing access to food, water, or shelter; or isolating an animal from opportunities to bond with their human families adversely affects the health and safety of dogs and can lead to further aggressive behavior. Your Committee further finds that vagueness in existing law makes it difficult for law enforcement officers to take action before an improperly tethered or restrained dog has suffered serious injury or death. This measure establishes clear guidelines for dog owners and law enforcement officers on what legally constitutes proper tethering.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 416, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 416, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair