STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3004

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2120

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2120, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PET SALES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require retail stores that sell pet animals to:

(A) Maintain records regarding the source and medical history of animals sold; and

(B) Provide records to pet purchasers, subject to the discretion of the retail pet store;

(2) Impose penalties for violations; and

(3) Authorize retail pet stores to showcase pet animals owned by a nonprofit animal welfare organization.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiian Humane Society, Animal Interfaith Alliance in Britain, Animal Welfare Institute, and fifteen individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Koolau Pets and eight individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that although thirty-three states license commercial pet breeders, thirty-one states set minimum standards of care for breeders, and thirty states regulate the sale of puppies by pet stores, Hawaiʻi does not regulate the retail pet business. Your Committee recognizes that although there are responsible and ethical breeders who offer a transparent process to prospective pet owners, a lack of oversight on retail pet businesses contributes to animal and consumer health and welfare issues in the State. This measure not only promotes responsible and ethical practices of commercial pet breeders, but also protects pet animals in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that a retail pet store that fails to maintain records regarding the source and medical history of pet animals sold and provide records to pet purchasers commits a violation and is subject to a $1,000 fine; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2120, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2120, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair