STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2565

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2504

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 2504, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SALE OF DOGS AND CATS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require retail pet stores to:

 

          (A)  Implant an identification microchip in a dog or cat prior to sale or exchange;

 

          (B)  Collect appropriate dog licensing forms and fees from a purchaser;

 

          (C)  Provide specific written documentation regarding each dog or cat sold;

 

          (D)  Provide written information on the health and benefits of spaying and neutering to the purchaser; and

 

          (E)  Provide written information for inspection and copying upon request from a county humane officer, animal control officer, or law enforcement officer;

 

     (2)  Prohibit the sale or trading of dogs and cats in public places, except by humane societies or certain animal control, rescue, or care organizations facilitating adoptions; and

 

     (3)  Establish penalties.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Humane Society of the United States, the Maui Humane Society, K9 Kokua, the West Hawaii Humane Society, and thirty-seven private individuals.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by twenty-seven private individuals.  The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that the amendments proposed by this measure attempt to better protect Hawaii's animals and consumers.  This measure requires implantation of an identification microchip in a dog or cat prior to sale and requires pet sellers to provide essential history and medical information to purchasers, animal care, and animal control agencies.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting county humane officers and animal control officers from the list of individuals who may inspect the written information maintained by the pet seller upon request;

 

     (2)  Clarifying that a law enforcement officer shall inspect or copy written information maintained by a pet seller only upon the receipt of a violation complaint; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2504, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2504, S.D. 2.

 


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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair