Bill Text: HI HR35 | 2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Department of Agriculture; Animal Quarantine Branch; Status Report
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-1)
Status: (Passed) 2015-04-09 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HR35 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2015-HR35-Amended.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.R. NO. |
35 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE RESOLUTION
REQUESTING A progress REPORT and plan for implementation of U.S. department of agriculture recommendations for the department of agriculture animal quarantine station.
WHEREAS, for more than 100 years, the Department of Agriculture, through its Animal Quarantine Station program, has kept Hawaii free of rabies; and
WHEREAS, current Department of Agriculture rules require dogs, cats, and other carnivores originating from the United States and other non-exempted areas, upon arrival in the State, to be confined to the Animal Quarantine Station for a period up to 120 days to prevent the introduction of rabies; and
WHEREAS, there are long-standing concerns relating to the Animal Quarantine Station facilities, including cement floors that may harbor bacteria, absence of air conditioning, size of the animal pens, and exposure of quarantined animals to direct sunlight and heat for long periods of time; and
WHEREAS, concerns have also been raised about the sensitivity levels of Animal Quarantine Station employees and the need for ongoing training since employees are tasked to be the caretakers of and are in frequent, direct contact with quarantined animals; and
WHEREAS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture is responsible for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act that establishes standards of care and treatment for certain warm blooded animals in specified situations; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, at the invitation of the Department of Agriculture, an inspector from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service performed a review of the facilities at the Animal Quarantine Station; and
WHEREAS, recommendations made by the inspector are being used to prioritize and implement facility improvements at the Animal Quarantine Station; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2015, that the Department of Agriculture is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016, on the Department of Agriculture's progress and plan for implementing the recommendations of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service inspection for the Animal Quarantine Station, including:
(1) Actions taken and an implementation timeline from the Department;
(2) Funding requirements and proposed legislation, if any; and
(3) Any other matters pertinent to improving quarantine facilities and procedures; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, and the Program Manager of the Animal Quarantine Branch.
Department of Agriculture; Animal Quarantine Branch; Status Report
