STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1288

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 1187

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Technology and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 1187 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to designate January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Community Services, Hawaii Catholic Conference, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Hawaii Family Forum, Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, IMUAlliance, and one individual.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Youth Services Network.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

     Your Committees find that thousands of human beings are trafficked into the United States each year to work in the sex trade or as slave labor.  These victims of human trafficking need safety and security.  Providing these individuals with a safe and nurturing environment is crucial to ensuring their return to society as contributing members.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding a new part using language from H.B. No. 874 (Regular Session of 2013), as introduced, which amends the definitions of "child abuse or neglect" under section 350-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and "harm" under section 587A-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, ensuring that the Department of Human Services provides the necessary services to Hawaii's youth who are victims of sex and labor trafficking; and

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2013.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Technology and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1187, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1187, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Technology and the Arts,

____________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair