STAND. COM. REP. NO. 652-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1580

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1580 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMAL CRUELTY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the criminal penalties for various animal cruelty offenses by increasing the category of offense.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement; Animal Welfare Institute; Hina's Legacy Rescue Foundation; Hawaiian Humane Society; Animal Interfaith Alliance of Britain; Waianae Wags; Domestic Violence Hurts Animals and People; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that there has been a significant increase in the number of incidents of animal cruelty in the State. According to the Honolulu Police Department, there were seventy-three animal cruelty crimes in 2023 compared to fifty‑eight in 2018.

Your Committee further finds that recent research has shown that animal cruelty is a predictive and co‑occurring crime with violence against humans, including children, intimate partners, and the elderly. Psychological studies show that seventy percent of violent criminals began by abusing animals. Children who witness animal abuse are also more likely to abuse animals as teenagers and adults. This measure increases the criminal penalties for various animal cruelty offenses.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the penalty for the offense of cruelty to animals in the second degree by:

(A) Deleting language that would have made the offense a class C felony;

(B) Providing that the enhanced penalty of class B felony applies if the violation results in the death of the animal; and

(C) Requiring that any person convicted of the class B felony be prohibited from possessing or owning any animal for a minimum of five years from the date of conviction;

(2) Deleting language that would have made the intentional interference with the use of a service animal or law enforcement animal a class C felony;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1580, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1580, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair