STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1157-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 1347

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEX TRAFFICKING PREVENTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education to offer training to teachers and school staff on how to prevent and respond to potential cases of sex trafficking.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Imua Alliance, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and Hawaii Youth Services Network. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that sexual exploitation of children is a serious problem in the State and can be best addressed by increasing awareness and training within state agencies. Your Committee further finds that this measure will provide the training necessary for teachers, educational officers, and other Department of Education staff to protect Hawaii's public school students from sexual exploitation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing, rather than requiring, the Department of Education to offer training to teachers and school staff on how to prevent and respond to potential cases of sex trafficking;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2051; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair