STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2768

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2601

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 S.B. No. 2601 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

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

(2) Authorize a court to require personnel of legal entities to undergo training on trauma-informed response.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Rainbow Family 808, Hawaiʻi Health and Harm Reduction Center, Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Imua Alliance, Hawaii Association for Justice, Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!, YWCA Kauaʻi, and fourteen individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Hawaii Insurers Council.

Your Committee finds that it is well documented that children of sexual abuse delay their disclosure of abuse, oftentimes for many years, as many victims are not ready to speak on their trauma as children. This is also true for children who suffer chronic abuse within their homes by a close family member who grooms the child to keep their abuse secret. The trauma of withholding abuse can have lasting effects, impacting the ability to disclose instances of abuse as the child grows older. For some survivors, it may take decades before the individual feels comfortable and safe enough to disclose being abused. Therefore, this measure provides an extended window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to disclose the abuse to ensure each survivor has an opportunity to seek justice and accountability.

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 S.B. No. 2601 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair