STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3349
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: H.B. No. 1777
H.D. 1
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2022
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1777, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Require the Department of the Attorney General to provide annual reports to the Legislature on available data pertaining to the commercial sexual exploitation of children; and
(2) Appropriate moneys.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Human Services, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Imua Alliance, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.
Your Committee finds that, during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, demand for services for survivors of sex trafficking in the State increased significantly. Obtaining quality data about children and youth who are survivors of commercial sexual exploitation is a critical tool for understanding their needs and increasing professional and community awareness. Reports to the Legislature containing pertinent data will assist in assessing and improving the State's response to the trafficking of minors.
Your
Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Establishing
the requirement that the Department of the Attorney General collect, share, and
report data pertaining to the commercial sexual exploitation of children as a
five-year pilot program;
(2) Specifying
that the Department of the Attorney General shall consult with the Department
of Human Services to develop guidelines for the collection, sharing, and
reporting of data pertaining to the commercial sexual exploitation of children;
(3) Clarifying
that entities other than state and county departments and agencies are
encouraged but not required to collect specific data;
(4) Specifying
that the required reports pertaining to the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of
Children Data Pilot Program be submitted to the Legislature no later than forty
days prior to the convening of each regular session;
(5) Specifying
that the Department of the Attorney General shall post its annual reports on its
website;
(6) Amending
section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and
(7) Making
technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and
consistency.
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 H.B. No. 1777, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1777, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
|
|
|
________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair |
|
|
|
|