STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3645

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1960, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, 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 strengthen efforts to prevent human trafficking in the State.

More specifically, this measure:

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

(3) Establishes penalties; and

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

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Women Lawyers, Imua Alliance, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that human trafficking is a persistent and harmful form of exploitation that continues to affect vulnerable populations in Hawaii. Your Committee also finds that the State's geographic isolation, reliance on tourism, and existing economic inequities contribute to conditions that enable trafficking activities while complicating detection and enforcement. Your Committee further finds that individuals employed in the transient accommodations industry are in a unique position to recognize indicators of trafficking and to take appropriate action when adequately trained. Your Committee believes that the procedures required by this measure will enhance early identification and intervention efforts and strengthen the State's overall capacity to address human trafficking.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1960, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair