The board voted to hold public hearings on the elimination of the 120-day waiting period for animals that originate in Hawai'i.

The new quarantine rules, approved last month by Gov. Linda Lingle, allow pets from the Mainland to have a quarantine of five days or less if they meet strict standards. But the rules are aimed at pets that come from states where rabies is present. The virus does not exist in Hawai'i.

Under the proposal today, animals that have two vaccinations prior to travel to the Mainland would be able to return to Hawai'i without quarantine. The exception to that would be if they were found to have exotic parasites. Those animals would have to stay five days or less in quarantine.

Public hearings must still be approved by the governor.

State Veterinarian Dr. James Foppoli said hearings hearings could be held as early as September. "It's a logical, clear change that has to be made," Foppoli said. "The big downside to animals locally is they tend not to be vaccinated against rabies."

Any Hawai'i animals being taken on trips would have to have a microchip implanted to identify them as well as two vaccinations at least 90 days apart.

The new board proposed re-entry fees of $78 for direct release and $110 for a five-day quarantine for parasites.