HB1777

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that children in the State are vulnerable to sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. Foster children and runaways with histories of abuse and neglect are at particularly high risk. LGBTQ+ youth, immigrants, undocumented workers, and young people suffering from mental illnesses and substance abuse issues are also highly vulnerable. Victims are often lured into sex trafficking through emotional manipulation and control, force, fraud, or threats. Sexually exploited children most often do not have the ability or resources to escape their traffickers and start new lives.

The legislature recognizes that, over the past decade, the commercial sexual exploitation of children has garnered greater attention in Hawaii and throughout the United States. Due to reporting requirements under federal and state law, the department of human services has received an increasing number of hotline calls from witnesses or victims of child sex trafficking. However, because child sex trafficking is covert, it is difficult to accurately measure the scope of the problem, and exploited youth may not identify themselves as victims.

The legislature believes that the statewide human trafficking coordinator, a position established within the department of the attorney general in May 2020, plays a vital function in the department's multidisciplinary approach to improving the State's anti-trafficking response.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the department of the attorney general to provide annual reports to the legislature on specified data pertaining to the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

SECTION 2. Chapter 28, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§28- Commercial sexual exploitation of children; annual report. (a) No later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, the department shall submit a report to the legislature containing data specific to the commercial sexual exploitation of children that covers the immediately preceding fiscal year, including the following:

(1) The number of reports to state and national hotlines alleging the commercial sexual exploitation of a child;

(2) The total number of suspected victims of commercial sexual exploitation, including:

(A) Demographic information including gender identity and expression, age, race, sexual orientation, and ethnicity, if data is available;

(B) Whether the child experienced one or more of the following risk factors:

(i) Multiple instances or extended periods of having been a runaway from a guardian or caregiver;

(ii) Past history of sexual abuse; and

(iii) Prior or current substance abuse;

(C) Whether the child was or is currently served by the department of human services and the types of services provided; and

(D) Whether the child was or is currently a client of the family court;

(3) The total number of confirmed victims of commercial sexual exploitation, including:

(A) Demographic information including gender identity and expression, age, race, sexual orientation, and ethnicity, if data is available;

(B) Whether the child had a third-party trafficker who advanced or profited from the commercial sexual exploitation;

(i) Multiple instances or extended periods of having been a runaway from a guardian or caregiver;

(ii) Past history of sexual abuse; and

(iii) Prior or current substance abuse;

(D) Whether the child was or is currently served by the department of human services and the types of services provided; and

(E) Whether the child was or is currently a client of the family court;

(4) Data collected by state-contracted providers, including:

(A) The types and aggregate costs of services provided to children who are suspected or confirmed victims of commercial sexual exploitation;

(B) Demographic information including gender, age, race, and ethnicity for children who are suspected or confirmed victims of commercial sexual exploitation;

(D) The number of children currently receiving each type of service; and

(E) The total number of children newly served by these providers during the fiscal year;

(5) The number of arrests by law enforcement agencies, open or pending prosecutions, and convictions obtained in the State, delineated by county, for crimes relating to the commercial sexual exploitation of children;

(6) The identification of any gaps in the State's ability to collect relevant data; and

(7) Recommendations for improving data collection and data sharing among service providers, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies, including law enforcement agencies.

(b) Every public official and every state and county department or agency, as applicable, shall:

(1) Share information with and provide all necessary assistance and cooperation to the department within the jurisdictional authority of the respective official, department, or agency; and

(2) Assist the department in carrying out its duties under this section.

"Child" means a person under eighteen years of age.

"Commercial sexual exploitation of children" means any sexual activity involving a child for the exchange or promise of anything of value by any person.

"Confirmed victim" means a child who has been identified by a state-approved validated assessment tool as a victim of sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking in persons as defined in section 350-1.

"Department" means the department of the attorney general.

"Suspected victim" means a child who is reasonably believed to be a victim of sex trafficking or severe forms of trafficking in persons as defined under section 350-1, but who has not been identified as a confirmed victim."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the department of the attorney general to fulfill the annual reporting requirements of this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of the attorney general for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1777
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII