STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3345

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1960

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1960, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of the Attorney General to develop a Human Trafficking Awareness Training Program to educate and train workers in the transient accommodations sector;

(2) Require transient accommodations employers or transient accommodations third-party contractors to periodically provide the human trafficking awareness training to certain employees and contract workers, keep records of the training, post signage, and develop and implement a human trafficking prevention policy that includes procedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking;

(3) Establish penalties; and

(4) Require the Department of Law Enforcement to adopt rules.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers, Imua Alliance, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation are global and local concerns, with Hawaiʻi's tourism economy heightening risks in the State. According to statewide law enforcement and service provider reports, trafficking cases often intersect with the visitor economy, especially in areas with high hotel density, nightlife, and short-term rentals. Your Committee further finds that while the visitor industry is not inherently a source of harm, it provides a critical vantage point for identifying and preventing exploitation. Hotel and lodging staff are uniquely positioned as frontline observers who, with proper training, can recognize potential trafficking situations and alert law enforcement. By establishing appropriate training and protocols, this measure will empower hospitality providers to serve as first responders who can identify red flags and connect survivors of human trafficking to assistive services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring transient accommodations employers and transient accommodations third-party contractors to provide human trafficking awareness training to their employees and contract workers, as applicable, by December 1, 2027;

(2) Requiring transient accommodations employers and third-party contractors to post and keep posted signage regarding human trafficking awareness, in a form prescribed by the Department of Law Enforcement, by January 1, 2028;

(3) Requiring transient accommodations employers and transient accommodations third-party contractors to develop and implement a human trafficking prevention policy by September 1, 2027;

(4) Specifying that the fine for violating the training, signage, policy implementation, and reporting requirements established by this measure is $100 for each separate offense;

(5) Inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion; and

(6) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 H.B. No. 1960, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1960, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair