CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 88-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2014

RE:    S.B. No. 702

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 2

       C.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 702, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD ABUSE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to combat internet crimes against children by:

     (1)  Establishing an internet crimes against children fee, which shall be assessed against a defendant for each felony or misdemeanor conviction of internet crimes against children;

     (2)  Establishing an internet crimes against children special fund intended to enable law enforcement to investigate and prosecute such crimes and to assist groups working directly to fight such crimes; and

     (3)  Making an appropriation to the internet crimes against children special fund and from the special fund for training and equipment, investigation and prosecution of internet crimes against children, and combatting such crimes.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that in 2008, USA Today reported that the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces had identified 2,297 unique computers in Hawaii trading sadistic images of infants and toddlers being tied up, tortured, and raped.  Due to limited funds, equipment, and training, only a very small percentage of investigative leads related to such crimes are examined every month.  Your Committee on Conference finds that imposing a fee on every defendant convicted of a felony or misdemeanor for internet crimes against children will help to establish funding to enhance the investigation and prosecution of such crimes and protect Hawaii's children.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting an internet crimes against children fee amount of up to $100 for each felony or misdemeanor conviction for internet crimes against children;

     (2)  Inserting an appropriation amount of $62,500 to be deposited from general revenues into the internet crimes against children special fund and from the special fund for training and equipment, investigation and prosecution of internet crimes against children, and combatting such crimes; and

     (3)  Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2014.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 702, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 702, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ MELE CARROLL, Co-Chair	____________________________ SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair
____________________________ KARL RHOADS, Co-Chair	____________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Co-Chair
____________________________ BERTRAND KOBAYASHI, Co-Chair	____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Co-Chair
	____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Co-Chair