HONOLULU. A bill allowing temporary restraining orders to be issued to prevent the abuse of household animals in domestic violence situations was signed into law by the governor as Act 159 on June 26, 2009. Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu (District 41-Waipahu, Village Park, Waikele), House Judiciary chairman, introduced the legislation.
The law authorizes the family court to issue a temporary restraining order in certain circumstances enjoining or restraining both of the parties from taking, concealing, removing, threatening, physically abusing, or otherwise disposing of any animal identified to the court as belonging to the household, until further order of the court.
“This law affords protection for innocent and vulnerable household animals in domestic violence situations where one party may seek to hurt or harm the other party through violence aimed at a beloved household pet,” explains Karamatsu. Karamatsu added that, “the final draft of the bill that was signed into law addressed several concerns raised by several testifiers during the house judiciary hearing. We received testimony in support of this measure from many parties including the City and County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Hawaiian Humane Society.”
The law takes effect on January 1, 2010.
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JON RIKI KARAMATSU 