Bills of Interest: HB1170 Would Criminalize Consumption of Dog/Cat

State captiol, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

House lawmakers from Maui have introduced several bills of interest that come up for hearings in respective committees on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.

In the Judiciary Committee, members will hear a bill introduced (BR-by request) by Rep. George Fontaine of Maui.  HB1170 seeks to criminalize the consumption of or trafficking in dog, cat or equine animal meat for the purpose of human consumption.

The item was introduced last year, but was carried over to the 2012 legislative session. Under the measure, a violation would be considered a misdemeanor offense.

The Judiciary Committee will also hear a bill introduced by Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran of Maui relating to ethics.  HB2175 seeks to exempt a person serving on a task force, working group, or other similar entities established by the legislature, for the purpose of recommending possible legislation from the conflict of interest law under the state ethics code.

Both items will surface for review at a 2 p.m. meeting at the state capitol.

The Water Land & Ocean Resources Committee, will take up two bills introduced by Rep. Angus McKelvey of Wet Maui.

One of the measures, HB2317, HD1 seeks a repeal of the prohibition against overnight accommodations as part of agricultural tourism activities of a farming operation.  It also would allow counties to authorize such uses by ordinance.

A separate measure also relating to agriculture, seeks an exemption from county building permits for certain residential buildings or structures located on commercial farms or ranches if the structures are used for general agricultural or aquaculture operations.   HB2424, HD1 is scheduled for a hearing at 11 a.m.