STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1295

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.C.R. No. 157

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 157 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO EXAMINE THE FAIR HOUSING AMENDMENTS ACT AS IT RELATES TO EMOTIONAL SUPPORT OR COMFORT ANIMALS AND TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS NECESSARY TO PREVENT ABUSES THEREOF,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the United States Congress to examine the Fair Housing Amendments Act as it relates to emotional support or comfort animals and to take necessary actions to prevent related abuses.

The Disability and Communication Access Board testified in support of the intent this measure.  The Hawaii Civil Rights Commission provided comments on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 157 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair