STAND. COM. REP. NO. 4069

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.C.R. No. 128

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 128 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTIES TO MORE EFFECTIVELY AND MEANINGFULLY COORDINATE THEIR POLICE ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS WITH THE STATE AND WITH HUMANE SOCIETIES AND OTHER ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNING THE DANGERS POSED BY UNLEASHED DOGS TO HUMANS AND TO OTHER ANIMALS IN PUBLIC AREAS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the counties to more effectively and meaningfully coordinate their police enforcement and public awareness efforts with the State and with humane societies and other animal welfare organizations concerning the dangers posed by unleashed dogs to humans and to other animals in public areas.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that dog bites are among the top reasons for emergency room visits, ranking higher than injuries occurring on motorcycles, to pedestrians, and from gunshots.  However, for a person who has been bitten by a dog or whose animal has been bitten by a dog, and who chooses to contact authorities to seek criminal or civil remedies, the delineation of roles and enforcement authority among county police departments, state park enforcement authorities in the case of state parks, and the humane societies or any other animal welfare organization can be unclear and confusing, and often results in the appearance of one enforcement authority assigning responsibility or blame to a different authority without providing meaningful assistance to the affected person.  This measure will protect pet animals and the public by urging the counties to more effectively and meaningfully coordinate their police enforcement and public awareness efforts with the State and with humane societies and other animal welfare organizations concerning the dangers posed by unleashed dogs to humans and to other animals in public areas.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 128, and recommends its adoption.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair