Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2234 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the commercial sexual exploitation of minors and activities consisting of exotic or nude dancing, escort services, and erotic or nude massage services.

Testimony in favor of this measure was submitted by the Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Sisters Offering Support, Palama Settlement, Hale Kipa, Inc., and seven private citizens. Testimony in opposition was submitted by the Public Defender. The Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney submitted comments on the measure.

Your Committee agrees with the testimony of Sisters Offering Support, that federal research has found that nude dancing, lap dancing, nude modeling, escort and nude massage services, and similar sexually provocative activities are used to lure girls into prostitution. One of the most common pathways is stripping. These activities are common in Hawaii. By the time the child is graduated into prostitution or pornography, it is often too late because the emotional, physical, and sexual damage has been done and the minor is fearful of testifying against the perpetrator.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

Your Committee has doubts about whether a criminal case can be sufficiently proven against an escort service under the intent of this measure. Your Committee defers to the Committee on Judiciary to determine whether escort services should be included in this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2234, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2234, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.