Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2020, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to designate it a class C felony to sell or offer to sell travel services for the purpose of promoting prostitution, and authorizes suspension or revocation of travel agency registration for engaging in such activities.

Testimony in favor of the measure was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Sisters Offering Support, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, and Equality Now.

Your Committee finds that sex-oriented businesses, including sex tourism, create victims who are exploited, abused, and objectified. These individuals and businesses profiting from the sex trade must be stopped. Most recently, it has been found that one local company is specializing in sex tours to Thailand. Making it a class C felony to sell or offer to sell travel services for the purpose of promoting prostitution is one step toward holding these businesses accountable for their part in the abuse and exploitation of women.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure to include language to provide the Regulated Industries Complaints Office with additional enforcement measures to aid in the execution of the new section.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2020, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2020, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.