STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3395

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 40

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.R. No. 40 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING REFORM IN THE MILITARY INVESTIGATORY AND PROSECUTORIAL SYSTEMS GOVERNING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND INCREASED TRANSPARENCY IN THE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM AND MILITARY REPORTING OF CRIMINAL SEX OFFENSES INVOLVING CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Encourage members of the United States Congress to reform the military reporting, investigatory, and prosecutorial systems governing child sexual abuse and continue their efforts to require the military to adopt sweeping systemic reform; and

     (2)  Encourage the Pentagon to apply the same openness standards with military reporting of criminal sex offenses involving children as the standards used in civilian courts and provide court documents that are open to the public electronically.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that child sexual abuse has a devastating effect on its victims.  This crime can remain hidden for years, resulting in the victims remaining vulnerable and unable to receive the help and justice that they require and deserve.  Your Committee further finds that the existing reporting, investigatory, and prosecutorial systems regarding child sexual assault are insufficient and should be reformed immediately.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 40 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

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GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair