STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1340-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2757

S.D. 1

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. 2757, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEX TRAFFICKING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to align sex trafficking laws with federal law by providing that the commercial sexual exploitation of a minor is a form of sex trafficking.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Honolulu Police Department; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Rainbow Family 808; Hawai‘i Youth Services Network; Imua Alliance; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that sex trafficking is a serious and pervasive issue in the State. Your Committee further finds that, unlike federal regulations, existing state laws do not recognize the solicitation of a minor for prostitution as a form of sex trafficking. This measure is intended to bring the State's laws regarding the solicitation of minors in alignment with federal regulations to ensure persons exploiting children for commercial sex are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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. 2757, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2757, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair