STAND. COM. REP. NO. 959

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 579

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 579, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Address the needs of victims of human trafficking through the development and implementation of a statewide Human Trafficking Prevention Program; and

(2) Require the Department of the Attorney General to report to the Legislature on the State's efforts to address the commercial sexual exploitation of children and human trafficking.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, one member of the Hawai‘i County Council, Zonta Club of Hilo, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services, Department of the Attorney General, and Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 579, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair