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Harry Ki <br />Afayor <br />Couttill <br />• <br />Wil Okabe <br />Afunaging Director <br />Barbara J. kossow <br />Deputy Alanagmg t)/rector <br />Offirr <br />vor <br />25 Aupuni Street„ Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 <br />KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokaiole Hwy., Bldg 0 • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 <br />(808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 <br />April 2, 2018 <br />Representative Scott Y. Nishimoto, Chair <br />Committee on Judiciary <br />Hawaii State Capitol, Room 325 <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />Representative Joy A. San Buenaventura, Vice -Chair <br />Committee on Judiciary <br />Hawail State Capitol, Room 325 <br />Honolulu, HI 96813 <br />Dear Chair Nishimoto, Vice -Chair San Buenaventura, and Co mittee Members: <br />Re: SB 2461, SD 1 Relating to Service Animals <br />Hearing Date: 04/04/2018 — 2:00 pm; House Conference Room 25 <br />Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of SB 2461, SD 1. <br />We have had a problem at County facilities where individuals have <br />misrepresented animal's as service animals. While SB 2461, SD 1 would not <br />necessarily eliminate all abuses, it would be a positive way of reinforcing HawaiTs <br />commitment to the Americans with Disabilities Act, while creating a deterrent to those <br />who would irresponsibly seek to unfairly take advantage of ADA's provisions. <br />While this bill would conform HawaiTs definition of service annals to the ADA <br />definition, there is nothing to preclude Hawaii from recognizing the value of other <br />sup ort animals, and 1 understand that some State and local govern ents have laws <br />that allow people to take emotional support animals, which are not service animals, into <br />public laces. We would not have any objection to an amendment to this bill which <br />would allow counties to adopt more lenient ordinances if they saw fit to do so. <br />Res <br />ectf ily submitted, <br />21 <br />Wil Okabe <br />Managing Director,County of Hawaii <br />County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Empl( <br />