STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1183-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2601

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2601 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL ABUSE OF MINORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Extend the time period by which a civil action for childhood sexual abuse may be initiated; and

(2) Allow a court to order the personnel of a legal entity against whom a claim is brought to undergo training on trauma-informed response to allegations of sexual abuse.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Rainbow Family 808; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Sex Abuse Treatment Center; Hawaii Association for Justice; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Imua Alliance; Hawai'i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Church State Council. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Hawaii Insurers Council.

Your Committee finds that survivors of childhood sexual abuse often do not divulge the truth of their abuse until adulthood, with some survivors delaying disclosure for fifty years or more. This measure will provide victims of childhood sexual abuse a better opportunity to seek justice.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the time period by which a civil action for childhood sexual abuse may be initiated based on when the sexual abuse occurred;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2601, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2601, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair