STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3487

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 199
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred
S.C.R. No. 199, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ATTORNEY
     GENERAL TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE
     RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE LAWS CONCERNING THE
     SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the
Attorney General to convene a task force to study the existing
statutory and penal code provisions concerning the sexual
exploitation of women and children in Hawaii and make
recommendations for improving these laws, as appropriate.

     In particular, the task force is requested to focus on the
specific issues related to:

     (1)  The commercial exploitation of minors and young women;

     (2)  The noncommercial exploitation and coercion of young
          women by men; and

     (3)  The role and use of current sexual assault laws in
          protecting women and children from sexual exploitation.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3487
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     Your Committee finds that trafficking in women and children,
and sexual exploitation of minors, most of whom are female, is
happening in this State, and in Honolulu in particular, at an
alarming rate and in ways in which most of the community is not
aware.  Your Committee also finds that the harmful effects of
sexual exploitation may include substance abuse, suicide,
sexually transmitted diseases, depression, and psychological
trauma.  Your Committee believes that this concurrent resolution
may lead to measures that will reduce the incidence of sexual
exploitation of women and children in Hawaii.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 199,
S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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