STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3125

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2183

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2183, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg 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 Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Police Department, Imua Alliance, Rainbow Family 808, and three individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committees find that sex trafficking is a profoundly prevalent crime in the State. According to testimony received by your Committees, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic saw demand for sex exploitation victim services skyrocket. Your Committees further find that over thirty states have existing safe harbor protections for sex trafficking victims. This measure will support survivors of sexual exploitation in finding health care by providing legal protections when obtaining health care services. Your Committees note the concerns that the H.D. 1 version of this measure may provide safe harbor to "johns", which is contrary to the intent of this measure. Therefore, amendments are necessary to address this concern.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Adding language to explicitly bar the safe harbor provisions from being utilized by individuals seeking medical care who provide, agree to provide, or offer to provide a fee or anything of value to another person to engage in sexual conduct; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2183, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2183, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair