STAND. COM. REP. NO.  239

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 874

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 874 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD VICTIMS OF SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ensure that child victims of sex and labor trafficking are provided necessary services by the Department of Human Services by:

     (1)  Including sexual exploitation and labor trafficking within the definition of reportable acts or omissions that constitute child abuse or neglect; and

     (2)  Including sexual exploitation and labor trafficking within the definition of "harm" used in child welfare statutes.

The Department of Human Services, Office of Community Services, Hawaii Catholic Conference, Hawaii Family Forum, the Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, Courage House Hawaii, Shared Hope International, Sex Abuse Treatment Center of Hawaii, and many individuals testified in support. Hawaii Youth Services Network supported the intent of the bill. Imua Alliance supported the bill with amendments.

     Your Committees have amended this bill by:

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to ensure further discussion; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of style, clarity, and consistency.  

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 874, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 874, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair

____________________________ MELE CARROLL, Chair