STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1211-22
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2022
RE: S.B. No. 2837
S.D. 2
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2022
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2837, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF ANIMALS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Establish a Spay and Neuter Special Fund to be used for cat spaying and neutering surgery and associated veterinary care; and
(2) Allow funds from an income tax check-off to be deposited into the Spay and Neuter Special Fund.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Aloha Animal Advocates, Animal Rights Hawai‘i, Love A Cat Charity, The Humane Society of the United States, Hui Pono Holoholona, Neighborhood Cats, Rainbow Family 808, Hawaiian Humane Society, Animal Interfaith Alliance in Britain, Alley Cat Allies, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Hui Ho‘omalu i ka Aina, Animal Bird Conservancy, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Taxation, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and one individual.
Your Committee finds that the increase in the number of feral cats in communities throughout the State continues to be a public concern from many perspectives, including public health and environmental, ecological, and animal welfare. There is ongoing policy consideration regarding how to best manage feral cats and feral cat colonies in the State. Your Committee finds that identifying the location and distribution of feral cats in the State supports an understanding of the breadth of the concern and the development of effective population management strategies to manage feral cats.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(2) Requiring the Department of Land and Natural Resources to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, regarding the point-in-time count to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2024; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
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. 2837, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2837, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,
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____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM, Chair |
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