STAND. COM. REP. NO. 594

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 834

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 834 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDLIKE SEX DOLLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the felony offense of importation, sale, or possession of a childlike sex doll.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, Ho‘ola Na Pua, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the widespread availability of childlike sex dolls enables the exploitation, objectification, abuse, and sexual assault of minors. Childlike sex dolls are designed to look and feel as lifelike as possible. The legislature recognizes that possession of a childlike sex doll correlates with other offenses perpetrated against children. This measure will help protect minors from the harm associated with childlike sex dolls by establishing the felony offense of importation, sale, or possession of a childlike sex doll.

Your Committee has amended this measure by amending the definition of "childlike sex doll" to be consistent with language in other sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 834, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 834, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair