The Hawaiian Humane Society regularly engages in efforts to improve our state and local animal laws.
Current efforts include:
Support
HB220 / SB998 Relating to the Spaying and Neutering of Animals
This measure establishes a special fund for the spay/neuter of pet cats and dogs and Free-Roaming cats, and allows funds from an income tax check-off to be deposited into the special fund. It has Hawaiian Humane’s strong support.
Pet animal and Free-Roaming cat overpopulation are persistent issues in Hawaiʻi and efforts to reduce the resulting suffering through low- and no-fee spay/neuter receive no state funding. Rather than competing for general fund resources, this measure would allow compassionate state taxpayers to support a dedicated Spay/Neuter Fund by reducing the size of any income tax refund due. This low-barrier way to contribute to an unmet need could make a world of difference for the nonprofit groups and veterinarians on the frontlines of animal welfare in our state.
Spay/neuter improves animal health and wellbeing, reduces the number of pets who have to find new families, curbs Free-Roaming cat overpopulation and saves lives.
HB821 Relating to the Sale of Animals
This measure prohibits pet dealers and retail pet stores in the State from selling, offering to sell, leasing, offering to lease, bartering, auctioning, or otherwise transferring ownership of any dog, cat, or rabbit. It allows retailers to work with animal welfare nonprofits to find new homes for animals through adoption. It has Hawaiian Humane’s support.
Hawaiʻi does not regulate animal-related businesses or nonprofits. This means there is no transparency for the consumer about where and how animals are being bred, and no way to ascertain the conditions in which animals are being held unless a situation deteriorates to such levels of cruelty that a search warrant can be obtained. The Hawaiian Humane Society supports efforts to better protect animals and this bill is a step in the right direction. We would like to see the provisions expanded to apply to all pet animals as defined in HRS 711-1100.
HB849 Relating to Animals
This measure prohibits a pet store operator from selling a dog, cat, or rabbit unless the dog, cat, or rabbit was obtained from certain humane sources. It has Hawaiian Humane’s strong support.
This is a similar bill to HB821, and we support it for similar reasons. HB849 has additional provisions that would be a huge help to both animals and people. It requires that pet stores maintain records of where they acquire animals for sale and display that information in its stores. We would like to build on that idea by requring that the records for individual animals be given to purchasers and that they be made available to law enforcement upon request. In addition, we would like to see the provisions expanded to apply to all pet animals as defined in HRS 711-1100.
SB1241 Relating to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority
This measure prohibits the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority from banning pet animals from housing under its control. It has Hawaiian Humane’s strong support.
Housing insecurity and the lack of pet-friendly housing are two major reasons people surrender their beloved pets into Hawaiian Humane’s care. While we are devoted to creating new families through adoption, we would rather see animals stay with the people who already love them whenever possible. Federally funded public housing in Hawaiʻi is required to allow pets under federal law. This would extend pet-owner access to state-funded projects. We think this bill sends a great message and hope it build momentum toward even more access to housing for pet owners.
SB804 Relating to Agricultural Lands
This measure authorizes lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture to be leased or used for pet animal sanctuaries; provided that the pet animal sanctuary provides a public benefit. The Hawaiian Humane Society is supporting this bill with some suggested amendment intended to ensure animals are receiving proper care and are available to be adopted into homes.
Fireworks
The Hawaiian Humane Society supports efforts to remove fireworks from residential neighborhoods by keeping these dangerous products out of our state entirely and/or enhancing enforcement. At what should be joyous times for local families, illegal fireworks fill our neighborhoods with unexpected explosions that terrorize pets and people alike. A number of bills are being considered this session with the intent of cracking down on the explosions that have now traumatize our communities for weeks at a time.
HB145 Relating to Fireworks
This measure imposes a statewide limitation on consumer fireworks, except by permit for cultural events. Hawaiian Humane supports the intent of the measure and has submitted comments requesting greater clarity on what would be considered a cultural event.
HB809 Relating to Fireworks
This measure establishes the shipping container inspection program and appropriates funds for the shipping container inspection program. It also requires the Department of Public Safety to submit reports to the Legislature on implementation of the shipping container inspection program. It has Hawaiian Humane’s support.
HB1041 Relating to Fireworks
This measure establishes the Illegal Fireworks Task Force within the Department of Law Enforcement to plan, coordinate, and engage in law enforcement operations to interdict illegal fireworks, develop a comprehensive strategic plan to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives into the State, promote compliance with the fireworks control laws, and ensure the safety and security of airports, harbors, and other facilities and institutions in the State against the discharge of illegal fireworks and explosives. The Hawaiian Humane Society supports the desire to move forward on this issue and has submitted comments pointing out that this is not an understudied problem and our communities are losing patience with the lack of progress.
SB821 Relating to Fireworks
This measure appropriates funds to the Department of Law Enforcement for the purchase of drones to monitor the use of illegal fireworks. It has Hawaiian Humane’s support.
SB498 Relating to Fireworks
This measure establishes the shipping container inspection program and shipping container inspection program special fund; increases the maximum fine for each violation of the fireworks law; and requires the Department of Public Safety to submit reports to the Legislature on implementation of the shipping container inspection program. It has Hawaiian Humane’s support.
SB1481 Relating to Fireworks
This measure establishes conditions for the importation of fireworks; authorizes the county fire departments to inspect warehouses, piers, cargo, baggage, and personal effects of persons arriving in the State to ascertain if they contain any fireworks; requires importers of fireworks to file a written statement with the appropriate county fire department; allows the county fire departments to take custody and possession of and exercise jurisdiction over illegally imported fireworks; prohibits the importation of fireworks except through airports and seaports approved by the State Fire Council; requires each county fire department to establish and maintain a secure storage site for illegally imported fireworks; and requires that each county establish ordinances setting conditions for the importation of fireworks. It has Hawaiian Humane’s support.
SB1585 Relating to Animal Agriculture
This measure prohibits new operations and renewal of existing licenses or permits to operate large concentrated animal feeding operations in the State, under certain conditions and by an unspecified date. It phases out all existing large concentrated animal feeding operations by 7/1/2028. It has Hawaiian Humane’s support.
The Hawaiian Humane Society supports the enforcement and strengthening of laws and the implementation of humane standards for animals in every phase of animal-based food production. We oppose “factory farming” and any other practice that treats animals as inanimate commodities. These facilities are also a concern from a One Health perspective, which recognizes the relationships between threats to people, domestic animals, wildlife, and their shared environment.
SB505 / HB910 Relating to Environmental Protection
This measure prohibits the harvesting of aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes, regardless of the method of collection. It has Hawaiian Humane’s strong support.
Update: The Senate version of this measure failed to advance at a joint hearing on Friday, Feb. 10. Despite overwhelming testimony in favor of the bill, and the fact that virtually all of the testimony in opposition came from out of state, it is unlikely to advance this session.
Comments
HB1512 Relating to Liability
This measure limits the civil liability of good Samaritans who render emergency nonmedical care and emergency nonmedical assistance to animals during an emergency. The Hawaiian Humane Society offered comments on this bill.
We support the intent of the measure to ensure private citizens can come to the aid of animals in need without suffering repercussions. Good Samaritans regularly bring us ill or injured animals that they have found at large. While we believe that activity should be protected, we have no evidence that people currently face any legal jeopardy for taking such actions.
HB1513 Relating to Unattended Animals in Motor Vehicles
This bill limits civil and criminal liability for persons who remove unattended animals from motor vehicles that are in physical danger if the actions are reasonable, in good faith, and in accordance with other requirements. Hawaiian Humane submitted comments on this measure ackowledging the compassionate intent of the bill.
Locking an animal in a hot car can indeed cause suffering very quickly. However, we could find no evidence on Oʻahu or any of our neighbor island counties that the existing law enforcement response to these calls is inadequate. In addition, the bill contains a provision requiring that law enforcement, but not good Samaritans, must make a reasonable effort to locate the owner before rescuing the animal. Emergency responders do make that effort now if time allows, but they have the discretion to act immediately.