STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1332-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 1347

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1, H.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 authorize the Department of Education to offer training to teachers and school staff on sex trafficking prevention and response.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawai‘i Association of School Psychologists, Education Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Imua Alliance, AF3IRM Hawaii, and ten individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, and Harm Reduction Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that sexual exploitation of children and youth is a serious problem throughout the United States and worldwide. One of the ways to effectively combat this problem is through prevention education and raising awareness to help lower the incidence of sex trafficking. Your Committee also finds that equipping teachers and school staff with training on sex trafficking prevention and response will provide the support that is necessary to assist students in Hawaii's public school students from sexual exploitation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair