STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 256-24
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2024
RE: H.B. No. 2183
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2183 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Imua Alliance and two individuals.
Your Committee finds that sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. A victim service provider for survivors of sex trafficking victims in Hawaii reported seeing a three hundred percent increase in demand for services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your Committee further finds that victims of sex trafficking should not be criminalized for their own exploitation, and immunizing sex trafficking survivors from prosecution would help advance the delivery of social services, help end the social stigma of sexual exploitation, and empower victims to utilize the legal system to achieve justice.
Your Committee notes that there was no testimony received by your Committee from the Department of the Attorney General or Office of the Prosecuting Attorney assessing the legality of this measure. Your Committee believes this issue merits further discussion by your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, where matters concerning amendments to the Penal Code are more appropriately addressed, should it deliberate on this measure.
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 H.B. No. 2183 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,
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____________________________ LISA MARTEN, Chair |
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