STAND. COM. REP. NO. 661-22

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2319, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture to be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees for service animals that are located in the State and are being transported for release at Kona, Kahului, or Lihue Airport; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board and American Kennel Club. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that because the Department of Agriculture's Animal Quarantine Holding Facility is located on Oahu, the animal inspection fee for service animals is waived for those travelers arriving at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Residents and visitors who arrive at any other port of entry in the State with a service animal are required to pay the neighbor island inspection permit fee. Your Committee further finds that this measure will provide equity to persons with disabilities traveling with a service animal by requiring the Department of Agriculture to be responsible for neighbor island inspection fees for service animals arriving at the airports in Kona, Kahului, or Lihue.

However, your Committee acknowledges the concerns raised in testimony by the Department of Agriculture, that it lacks the staff or financial resources to perform or pay for inspections, and will therefore need a dedicated source of funding to accomplish the intent of this measure. The Department also noted that cost estimations for this measure may be challenging, as it does not control the fees that private veterinary facilities charge for neighbor island inspections.

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. 2319, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair