HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1967
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIM SERVICES FUND.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 119, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, established the human trafficking victim services fund to impose a human trafficking victim services fee upon individuals convicted of certain trafficking offenses and to provide support and services to human trafficking victims. The legislature saw the need for a source of revenue to support and provide services to human trafficking victims who often require access to basic and life-sustaining services, including toiletries and food, and may require long-term access to stable and supportive environments, such as licensed residential treatment facilities. When the fund was created, it was placed in the department of labor and industrial relations.

In 2022, the legislature created a new special investigations and prosecution division within the department of the attorney general, which is the State's primary prosecutorial unit responsible for prosecuting human trafficking and sex trafficking. The following year, the legislature established a statewide human trafficking prevention program within the department of the attorney general to provide services and assistance to victims of human trafficking and victims of the commercial sexual exploitation of children through Act 83, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023. The department of the attorney general is also required to provide reports regarding human trafficking to the legislature in 2026 and 2027.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to move the human trafficking victim services fund from the department of labor and industrial relations to the department of the attorney general.

SECTION 2. Section 706-650.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

1. By amending subsection (3) to read:

"(3) There is established within the state treasury a special fund to be known as the human trafficking victim services fund to be administered by the department of [labor and industrial relations.] the attorney general. The disbursement of money from the human trafficking victim services fund shall be used to supplement programs, grants, or purchase of service contracts that support or provide comprehensive services to victims of labor trafficking crimes under part VIII of chapter 707, or victims of trafficking related to crimes under part I of chapter 712. Moneys in the special fund shall be used for new or existing programs, grants, or purchase of service contracts and shall not supplant any other moneys previously allocated to these programs, grants, or purchase of service contracts."

2. By amending subsection (6) to read:

"(6) The department of [labor and industrial relations] the attorney general shall submit to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session a written annual report that provides the following:

(a) An accounting of the receipts of and expenditures from the human trafficking victim services fund; and

(b) Any recommendations to improve support of and services to victims of labor trafficking crimes under part VIII of chapter 707, or victims of trafficking related to crimes under part I of chapter 712."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Human Trafficking Victim Services Fund; Department of the Attorney General; DLIR

Description:

Changes the administration of the human trafficking victim services fund from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to the Department of the Attorney General. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.