HR125 HD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	125
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO STRENGTHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN BY STRENGTHENING STATEWIDE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES AND GENERATING A PLAN TO EXPAND SPECIALIZED INVESTIGATIVE PERSONNEL.

WHEREAS, human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children are among the most severe and inhumane criminal offenses affecting vulnerable individuals across the United States and within Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, victims of trafficking are often among the most vulnerable members of society, including runaway youth, homeless youth, foster youth, and individuals experiencing poverty or instability; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies in the State receive as many as two thousand runaway youth reports each year, and national studies indicate that one in seven runaway youth are likely victims of human trafficking; and

WHEREAS, traffickers frequently exploit vulnerable youth by using coercion, manipulation, and violence, often operating through hotels, online platforms, and organized criminal networks; and

WHEREAS, the State receives millions of visitors each year and maintains a major tourism economy, which traffickers may exploit to facilitate the commercial sexual exploitation of vulnerable individuals; and

WHEREAS, investigations involving human trafficking are complex and require specialized training, dedicated personnel, and coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, social services providers, and federal partners; and

WHEREAS, current law enforcement resources dedicated specifically to investigating human trafficking and locating runaway youth are limited and insufficient to address the growing scale and complexity of trafficking crimes; and

WHEREAS, increasing the number of trained investigators dedicated to trafficking enforcement would improve the State's ability to identify victims, locate missing youth, dismantle criminal trafficking networks, and bring offenders to justice; and

WHEREAS, protecting children and vulnerable individuals from exploitation must remain a top priority for the State and its law enforcement agencies; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Law Enforcement are urged to strengthen law enforcement capacity to combat human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children by strengthening statewide enforcement initiatives and generating a plan to expand specialized investigative personnel; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Operation Shine the Light initiative is urged to be expanded to include all county police departments to strengthen coordination among county police departments, prosecutors, the Department of Human Services, and federal law enforcement agencies and to improve victim identification, investigation, and prosecution of trafficking crimes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Operation Shine the Light initiative is urged to consider the establishment of specialized runaway youth recovery teams in each county law enforcement department to rapidly locate missing youth who may be at risk of trafficking or exploitation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Law Enforcement are urged to conduct an assessment to determine the need for any additional specialized investigative personnel; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Law Enforcement are requested to submit a report of findings and recommendations, including proposed staffing levels, training needs, and funding requirements necessary to support a statewide enforcement initiative, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Attorney General, Director of Law Enforcement, Director of Human Services, and chiefs of police of each county.