House transportation committee adopts 'Mila Microchip Identification Act' to require scanning of deceased pets

House Committee on Transportation Chair Daria Skelle on Thursday moved and won passage of HB 667, which requires the Department of Transportation and county agencies that dispose of deceased cats and dogs found on public roadways to scan animals for microchips, record ownership information, and notify appropriate animal services and owners. The committee adopted technical amendments and renamed the act the "Mila Microchip Identification Act."

The measure responds to testimony and written submissions from animal-welfare organizations and residents who cited cases in which animals removed from roadways were not scanned and owners were not notified. Stephanie Kendrick of the Hawaiian Humane Society said in testimony the community has “an intense demand for this information” and called the bill an important safeguard for pet owners. Patricia Kapuz, who testified in person about a pet taken to a landfill without owner notification, told the committee that scanning could have prevented her family’s continued heartbreak.

The chair said the committee would adopt HD 1 with technical edits, set the effective date to July 1, 3000 (placeholder effective date used in committee reports), and strike an appropriation section because the Department of Transportation had already acquired scanning equipment. The adopted amendment explicitly requires county agencies that are not under DOT jurisdiction to coordinate with DOT to use state-owned scanners when determining ownership. The chair also said the preamble will reference reporting of a specific incident and prior concurrent resolutions noted in testimony.

Vote and next steps

Chair Skelle moved the committee recommendation to pass with amendments. The chair and vice chair voted aye; Representatives Cochran, Evelyn, Keetagawa, LaChica, Miyake and Moraoka recorded aye votes. Representative Pierrick was excused. The committee’s recommendation was adopted and the measure will be reported out of committee with the adopted HD 1 and the noted committee report language for further consideration by subsequent committees.

Context and scope

Testimony in support came from the Department of Transportation (which submitted testimony and confirmed acquisition of scanners), Hawaiian Humane Society, Pacific Pet Alliance and several residents. The committee removed direct funding language because DOT had acquired scanners and added coordination language so counties without scanners can use DOT equipment. The chair indicated the legislation will be memorialized in committee reports referencing prior House Concurrent Resolution 171 and House Resolution 150 and a KATV news item cited in testimony.

Ending

The committee adopted the HD 1 and advanced the bill with instructions in the committee report about the changes and the new informal title, the Mila Microchip Identification Act.