STAND. COM. REP. NO.1084

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: S.B. No. 204

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 204, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to reduce quarantine user fees by:

(1) Waiving up to $600,000 in repayment to the general fund of revenues used to establish the Animal Quarantine Special Fund (Special Fund); and

(2) Appropriating funds to the Special Fund.

The Office of the Director of Manpower, Personnel and Administration for the U.S. Pacific Command, Military Affairs Council of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Business Roundtable, Oahu Veterans Council, and the Hawaiian Humane Society testified in support of this bill. The Department of Agriculture opposed this bill.

Your Committee recognizes that keeping Hawaii rabies-free is an important public health and safety concern that affects the quality of life of all people in the State. The State therefore, must share the cost of maintaining the animal quarantine facility.

Your Committee finds that the creation of the Special Fund necessitated an increase in quarantine user fees. However, the high costs of quarantine fees has proven burdensome on users, particularly, military personnel who often have no choice as to where they are required to move. Your Committee believes that this bill provides a fair and equitable solution in reducing quarantine fees.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Deleting the appropriation;

(2) Reducing the amount waived to $100,000;

(2) Exempting the Special Fund from the special fund assessment;

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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 S.B. No. 204, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 204, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

FELIPE P. ABINSAY, Chair