STAND. COM. REP. NO. 434-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1715

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1715 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNATTENDED ANIMALS IN MOTOR VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to limit civil and criminal liability for persons who remove from motor vehicles unattended animals that are in physical danger; provided the actions are reasonable, in good faith, and in accordance with other requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from The Humane Society of the United States, Domestic Violence Hurts Animals and People, Big Island Pet Detectives, and ten individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Insurers Council and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiian Humane Society, American Kennel Club, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that animals left unattended in motor vehicles may be subject to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal. Your Committee finds that this measure is intended to prevent injury, harm, or death to animals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring a person who observes an animal left unattended in a motor vehicle and determines that the unattended animal is in physical danger to first contact county emergency services or an organization contracted by a county for animal control and wait a reasonable time for a response before using whatever means are reasonably necessary to protect the animal and remove it from the motor vehicle;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1715, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1715, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair