STAND. COM. REP. NO.  492

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1012

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1012 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EXHIBITION OF WILD OR EXOTIC ANIMALS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the display or performance of live wild or exotic animals unless the animals physically reside in Hawaii for more than three hundred days before the display or performance.

 

     The Humane Society of the United States, Born Free USA, Three Ring Ranch Exotic Animal Sanctuary, Conservation Council for Hawaii, Hawaiian Humane Society, and many individuals provided testimony in support of this measure.  The City and County of Honolulu Department of Enterprise Services, Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums, Mirage, Dolphin Quest, EK Fernandez Shows, Circus Fans Association of America, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., Hawaii's Agricultural Partnerships, Maui Fair Alliance, Field Entertainment, Inc., and numerous individuals submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.  Zoological Association of America, Animal Rights Hawaii, and a few concerned individuals provided comments on this measure.

 


     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Removing the language that would have prohibited the display or performance of live wild or exotic animals, unless the animals physically reside in Hawaii for more than three hundred days before the display or performance; and

 

     (2)  Inserting language that:

 

          (A)  Requires written notification of any prior federal Animal Welfare Act violations when applying to the Department of Agriculture for a permit to import exotic or wild animals into the State; and

 

          (B)  Establishes the offense of unlawful use of wild or exotic animal to prohibit the use of a wild or exotic animal as part of a travelling exhibit or show for compensation if the animal has been living or travelling in a mobile housing facility.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1012, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1012, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair