STAND. COM. REP. NO. 730

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 316

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 316 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DOGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish additional penalties for dog owners whose dog destroys property while on land zoned for agricultural use.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc. and one individual.

Your Committee finds that dogs that are unleashed or improperly secured can wander onto farms and other lands zoned for agricultural use and cause harm to a landowner's property, which may include sheep, cattle, goats, hogs, and chickens. Your Committee further finds that a penalty is necessary to act as a deterrent against irresponsible dog owners and to protect farmers and landowners from the unnecessary burdens caused by unleashed or improperly secured dogs. Therefore, this measure establishes a fine for damages to property caused by dogs on land zoned for agricultural use.

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. 316 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair