HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-04-02 Letter to Scott Y. Nishimoto and Joy A. San Buenaventura re: SB 2461, SD 1 Relating to Service AnimalsHarry Ki
Afayor
Couttill
•
Wil Okabe
Afunaging Director
Barbara J. kossow
Deputy Alanagmg t)/rector
Offirr
vor
25 Aupuni Street„ Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553
KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokaiole Hwy., Bldg 0 • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
(808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440
April 2, 2018
Representative Scott Y. Nishimoto, Chair
Committee on Judiciary
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 325
Honolulu, HI 96813
Representative Joy A. San Buenaventura, Vice -Chair
Committee on Judiciary
Hawail State Capitol, Room 325
Honolulu, HI 96813
Dear Chair Nishimoto, Vice -Chair San Buenaventura, and Co mittee Members:
Re: SB 2461, SD 1 Relating to Service Animals
Hearing Date: 04/04/2018 — 2:00 pm; House Conference Room 25
Thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of SB 2461, SD 1.
We have had a problem at County facilities where individuals have
misrepresented animal's as service animals. While SB 2461, SD 1 would not
necessarily eliminate all abuses, it would be a positive way of reinforcing HawaiTs
commitment to the Americans with Disabilities Act, while creating a deterrent to those
who would irresponsibly seek to unfairly take advantage of ADA's provisions.
While this bill would conform HawaiTs definition of service annals to the ADA
definition, there is nothing to preclude Hawaii from recognizing the value of other
sup ort animals, and 1 understand that some State and local govern ents have laws
that allow people to take emotional support animals, which are not service animals, into
public laces. We would not have any objection to an amendment to this bill which
would allow counties to adopt more lenient ordinances if they saw fit to do so.
Res
ectf ily submitted,
21
Wil Okabe
Managing Director,County of Hawaii
County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Empl(