STAND. COM. REP. NO. 103-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 2319

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. 2319 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SERVICE ANIMALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture to be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees for service animals that are being transported for release at Kona, Kahului, or Lihue airports.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the American Kennel Club. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Agriculture currently allows private veterinarians to apply and receive approval to conduct inspections of dogs and cats arriving at the Kahului Airport, Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, and Lihue Airport. However, your Committee further finds that the Department of Agriculture does not regulate inspection fees charged by these private entities, requiring residents and visitors who enter the State through those airports to pay an inspection fee. Your Committee notes that this is only because the Department of Agriculture does not have staff on any island except for Oahu. This measure provides equality amongst all airports by having the Department of Agriculture be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation of an unspecified amount for the Department of Agriculture to cover the costs of this measure;

(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. 2319, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2319, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair