STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2024-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2837

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2837, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, 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 and appropriate funds into and out of the Spay and Neuter Special Fund for cat spaying and neutering surgery and associated veterinary care;

(2) Allow funds from an income tax check-off to be deposited into the Spay and Neuter Special Fund;

(3) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in collaboration with animal welfare groups and organizations, to conduct a point-in-time count of feral cats per main island by June 30, 2023; and

(4) Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to submit a report regarding the point-in-time count to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2024.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, Hawaiian Monk Seal Preservation Ohana, Animal Rights Hawai‘i, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, American Bird Conservancy, Hui Ho‘omalu i ka ‘Aina, Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Center for Biological Diversity, Kauai Albatross Network, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, Animal Interfaith Alliance in Britain, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaiian Humane Society, and seven individuals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in collaboration with animal welfare groups and organizations, shall plan a count of free-roaming cats per main island and submit a report to the Legislature prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023;

(2) Appropriating an unspecified amount for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to plan for the count of free-roaming cats per main island; 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 Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2837, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2837, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair