HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 430 Draft 01 2022-2024JN�V DF.H4
COUNTY OF HAWAVI STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 4 3 0 02111
A RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO AMEND
CHAPTER 142, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, TO PROVIDE FOR GREATER
PUBLIC SAFETY AGAINST THE RISK OF DAMAGE, INJURY, AND DEATH POSED
BY DANGEROUS DOGS BY INCREASING ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES
AGAINST OWNERS OF SUCH DOGS.
WHEREAS, the American Veterinary Medical Association considers dog attacks to be a
serious health risk to our society that is almost entirely preventable through public education and
properly enforced measures by owners to keep dogs humanely restrained and secured; and
WHEREAS, Hawaii County residents and their animals have recently been subjected to
a number of vicious attacks by dogs, causing severe injuries and ultimately resulting in the
deaths of persons and animals that were attacked; and
WHEREAS, on April 6th, 2022, in response to these recurring attacks, the Council of the
County of Hawaii ("the Council") unanimously passed Bill No. 125, Draft 2, which was signed
into law as Ordinance No. 22-36 by Mayor Mitchell Roth on April 21St, 2022; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 22-36 provided additional provisions to regulate persons
who own, harbor, or keep any dog that has bitten, injured, maimed, or killed a person or injured,
maimed, or destroyed an animal belonging to another person; and
WHEREAS, dog attacks have continued to occur since the enactment of this legislation,
demonstrating the need for stronger laws, penalties, and enforcement relating to dangerous dogs;
and
WHEREAS, inconsistencies in State and County laws regarding dangerous dogs have
made it unclear which laws are enforceable to hold dog owners accountable; and
WHEREAS, the problem of dangerous dogs is not unique to Hawaii County, and the
Hawaii State Association of Counties recognized this issue as the number one legislative
priority for its 2024 legislative package; and
WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Legislature is currently considering H.B. 2058, which
would establish requirements and penalties for dog owners that allow their dogs to injure or kill
other animals or people; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that this
body hereby urges the Hawaii State Legislature to amend Chapter 142, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, to set and increase fines, penalties, and other regulations as prescribed in Ordinance No.
22-36, including providing that owners convicted under the law be found guilty of a class C
felony for a dog attack that results substantial bodily injury to a person, or a class B felony if the
attack results in death.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council supports the intent of H.B. 2058 and
urges the legislature to consider the bill as a vehicle to bring about much-needed changes to State
law in an effort to prevent any more injury, damage, or death caused by dangerous dogs.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Joshua Green, M.D., Governor of the State of Hawaii; the
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi, President of the Hawaii Senate; the Honorable Scott K. Salki,
Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives; the Honorable members of the Hawaii Island
delegation to the Hawaii State Legislature; the Honorable Mitchell D. Roth, Mayor of the
County of Hawaii; the Honorable Kelden Waltien, Prosecuting Attorney; and Benjamin
Moszkowicz, Chief of Police.
Dated at , Hawai'i, this day of )20
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on
ATTEST:
U41� _ I I �111
Cy M. B"OUNTY OF HAWAII
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES NOES ABS EX
EVANS
GALIMBA
INABA
KAGIWADA
KANEALI'l-KLEINFEI.DER
KIERKIEWICZ
KIMBALL
LEE LOY
VILLEGAS
Reference
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION
W
C-712/GOFAC
430 Z4