HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

34

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF BOTH DECOMMISSIONING AND RELOCATING THE ANIMAL QUARANTINE STATION IN HALAWA VALLEY.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Hawaii is the only state in the nation that is rabies-free; and

 

     WHEREAS, current Department of Agriculture rules require dogs, cats, and other carnivores originating from the United States and other non-exempted areas, upon arrival in the State, to be confined to a quarantine station for a period up to one hundred twenty days to prevent the introduction of rabies to the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, animals can be quarantined in the Department of Agriculture-operated animal quarantine station in Halawa Valley or in State-approved animal hospitals; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is a history of complaints and concerns relating to the adequacy and upkeep of the animal quarantine station in Halawa Valley; and

 

     WHEREAS, a 2015 article in Honolulu Civil Beat reported that of the pets arriving in Hawaii that require being quarantined, only about ten per cent are housed at the animal quarantine station; and

 

     WHEREAS, the nearly forty acres of land and facilities that make up the animal quarantine station in Halawa Valley may be better suited for purposes other than animal quarantine; and

 

     WHEREAS, other locations in the State may be better suited to quarantine animals coming into the State; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to examine the feasibility of both decommissioning and relocating the animal quarantine station in Halawa Valley, and determining the most suitable course of action; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as part of its examination, the Department of Agriculture consider:

 

(1)  Which locations, if any, would be more suitable for an animal quarantine station than the current station at Halawa Valley;

 

(2)  Other Department of Agriculture divisions that could utilize the land and facilities at the animal quarantine station in Halawa Valley;

 

(3)  What actions are needed to decommission the animal quarantine station at Halawa Valley;

 

(4)  What actions are needed to establish and operate an animal quarantine station at a new location;

 

(5)  The amount of time needed to decommission the animal quarantine station at Halawa Valley and subsequently establish and operate an animal quarantine station at a new location; and

 

(6)  How the animals being quarantined at the time of decommissioning would be affected and transferred if the animal quarantine station at Halawa Valley were to be decommissioned; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2017; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, and the Program Manager of the Animal Quarantine Branch.

Report Title:

Animal Quarantine; Department of Agriculture; Decommission