SCR88

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	88
TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO EXAMINE THE ISSUE AND DEVELOP LEGISLATION TO HALT human trafficking.

WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the existing legislation and law enforcement activities in Hawaii are inadequate to deter human trafficking, to bring traffickers to justice, and to protect the rights of trafficked persons; and

WHEREAS, no comprehensive law exists in Hawaii that penalizes the range of offenses involved in the trafficking scheme; and

WHEREAS, existing Hawaii law does not recognizes the needs and rights of trafficked persons, who are often in the destination country without proper documentation; and

WHEREAS, trafficked persons often find it difficult or impossible to report the crimes committed against them or to assist in the investigation and prosecution of these crimes because they are typically unfamiliar with our laws, culture, and language; and

WHEREAS, adequate services and facilities do not exist in Hawaii to meet the needs of trafficking victims for health care, housing, education, and legal assistance, which safely support the recovery and ability of trafficked persons to regain control of their lives and to assist with the prosecution of traffickers; and

WHEREAS, to deter human trafficking, Hawaii must recognize that trafficking is a serious offense, must proscribe appropriate punishment for traffickers, and must protect rather than punish the victims of human trafficking; and

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that human trafficking is a serious issue that must be addressed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor is requested to establish an anti-human trafficking task force to examine the issue and to develop proposed legislation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be comprised of the following members:

(1) The Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee;

(2) The Director of Human Services, or the Director's designee;

(3) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee;

(4) The Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, or the Director's designee;

(5) An attorney from the Office of the Public Defender;

(6) A member from each county's prosecuting attorneys' office;

(7) A commissioner from each county's police department or their designee;

(8) The Director of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, or the Director's designee;

(9) The Director of the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, or the Director's designee; and

(10) The Director of Na Loio Immigrant and Public Interest Legal Center, or the Director's designee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee shall designate the chairperson of the task force, who shall have the primary responsibility in carrying out the purposes of this resolution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall:

(1) Classify and define the offenses covered under human trafficking;

(2) Specify terms of imprisonment for crimes covered by human trafficking;

(3) Examine ways to make human trafficking laws consistent with the existing Hawaii Penal Code; and

(4) Develop training to educate local and state agencies on how to identify human trafficking, methods for protecting trafficking victims, and handling any special needs of trafficking victims;

(5) Collect and analyze data on human trafficking and evaluate the State in the areas of trafficking prevention, protection, assistance to victims, and prosecution of traffickers; and

(6) Draft proposed legislation concerning human trafficking; and

(7) Conduct any other business deemed necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall provide the Legislature with a copy of its report, including proposed legislation, at least twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Department of the Attorney General, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Office of the Public Defender, each county's prosecuting attorney's office, the commissioner of each county's police department, the Director of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Director of the Domestic Violence

Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, and the Director of Na Loio Immigrant and Public Interest Legal Center.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Relating to Human Trafficking