STAND. COM. REP. NO. 905

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 570

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 570, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Expand the time period by which a civil action for childhood sexual abuse may be initiated;

(2) Extend the period during which a victim of childhood sexual abuse may bring an otherwise time-barred action against the victim's abuser or a legal entity having a duty of care;

(3) Allow victims to recover treble damages in certain circumstances; and

(4) Allow a court to order the personnel of a legal entity against whom a claim is brought to undergo training on trauma-informed response to sexual abuse allegations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Domestic Violence Action Center, Rainbow Family 808, Imua Alliance, CHILD USA, CHILD USAdvocacy, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 570, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair