STAND. COM. REP. NO. 979

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 343

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 343, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT OF AN ANIMAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the offense of sexual assault of an animal as a class C felony; and

(2) Provide that sexual assault of an animal is a class B felony if the offense subjects a minor to sexual contact with an animal or is committed in the presence of a minor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, Hawaiian Humane Society, The Humane Society of the United States, Pono Advocacy, Animal Rights Hawaii, Animal Interfaith Alliance in Britain, Hawaii Association of Animal Welfare Agencies, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the sexual assault of an animal has been significantly linked to the sexual abuse of children as well as interpersonal violence and other forms of animal cruelty. In addition, sexual abusers of animals have been shown to collect and share child pornography and express interest in other aberrant behavior involving sexual violence and fetish behaviors. Your Committee further finds that establishing the sexual assault of an animal as a separate crime will allow law enforcement officers to better identify potentially dangerous and violent sexual predators in the community.

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 S.B. No. 343, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair