STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3650

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2183

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2183, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish safe harbor protections for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek medical or law enforcement assistance.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Rainbow Family 808, Imua Alliance, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that more than twenty-three percent of sex trafficking victims in the State report being first exploited before turning eighteen. Additionally, more than eighty percent of victims report being raped and ninety-five percent report being physically assaulted. This measure will ensure that victims of sex trafficking are able to seek the help they need without being held legally responsible for the trauma they endured.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2183, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2183, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair