STAND. COM. REP. 711

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 976

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 976, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRIME,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of the bill is to:

(1) Create an offense of aggravated cruelty to animals; and

(2) Provide concurrent jurisdiction over the new crime of aggravated cruelty to animals with the circuit and family courts.

The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Honolulu Police Department, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure. The City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney supported the intent of this measure. The Hawaiian Humane Society and Kauai Humane Society supported this measure and recommended amendments. The Office of the Public Defender and Animal CARE Foundation opposed this measure.

Your Committee finds that repetitive animal cruelty and animal cruelty for the purpose of causing emotional trauma to persons should be sanctioned to a greater degree than isolated incidents of animal cruelty.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 976, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 976, H.D. 2, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

 

____________________________

ERIC G. HAMAKAWA, Chair