STAND. COM. REP. NO.259

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 873

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 873 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to include transporting an unrestrained animal in the bed of a pickup truck within the criminal offense of cruelty to animals.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiian Humane Society and the Kauai Humane Society. The Office of the Public Defender provided comments on this measure.

Your Committee finds that persons often drive their pickup trucks and carry their dogs (or other animals) in the bed unrestrained. While Rover enjoys the freedom to roam around the bed of the truck and the rush of wind against his fur, a canine's inherent exuberance can lead the dog to jump or fall out of the moving truck.

Your Committee agrees that an owner who allows such action should be held accountable under the statute criminalizing cruelty to animals. Many pets are lost each year to such tragedies, and traffic hazards result when pets roam free on the roads.

Your Committee has amended this measure to clarify that only pickup trucks on public property are subject to the offense. In addition, your Committee replaced the term "restrained" with "properly contained or cross-tied." As amended, your Committee finds that this measure will be easier to enforce and will save the lives of many vulnerable animals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 873, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 873, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations,

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair