STAND. COM. REP. NO.  213

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1621

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 1621 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOGS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the health and safety of dogs and protect the community from purchasing unhealthy dogs by establishing license requirements to regulate large scale dog breeders.

 

     The Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Humane Society of the United States, Hawaiian Humane Society, Maui Humane Society, Waimanalo Agricultural Association, Oahu SPCA, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Hawaiian Chinese Shar-Pei Club and several concerned individuals opposed this bill.  The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Poi Dogs & Popoki submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee notes that the public hearing on this measure included discussions on whether a sunrise audit must be performed before the new licensing requirements contained in this measure are enacted.

 

     Your Committee also notes that concerns were raised regarding imposing limits, if any, on the amount of puppies that may be bred by a dog breeder in a given time period, such as a month or a year.  In addition, the issue of whether this measure provides an appropriate level of enforcement authority may require further discussion and deliberation. 

 

     Accordingly, your Committee will continue to work on this bill as it moves forward and respectfully requests your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce and your Committee on Judiciary to address the aforementioned issues when this bill is referred to those committees. 

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting specific references to "large scale" dog breeders;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1621, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1621, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection & Commerce and Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair