STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1289

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 235

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 235, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish 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 the Attorney General, Department of Human Services, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Zonta Club of Hilo, Imua Alliance, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that children in the State are vulnerable to sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, particularly children who belong to vulnerable groups such as foster children, runaways, LGBTQ+ youth, immigrants, undocumented workers, and youth suffering from mental health and substance use issues. Over the last decade, the commercial sexual exploitation of children has garnered greater attention in Hawaii and throughout the United States. However, because child sex trafficking is covert, it is difficult to accurately measure the scope of the problem. This measure provides a robust and comprehensive statewide framework for the Department of the Attorney General to make efforts to prevent human trafficking, provide increased support and assistance to victims, educate the public, prosecute offenders, and collect data.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee grants prior concurrence on this measure to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs to make any amendments it deems necessary.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 235, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 235, 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 Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair