CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 86-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2719

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2719, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE,"

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 extend the period during which a victim of child sexual abuse may bring an otherwise time-barred civil action against the victim's abuser, or legal entity that is also civilly liable, until April 24, 2020.

Your Committee on Conference finds that child sexual abuse is a serious and ongoing threat to the safety, health, and wellbeing of children and young people.  Survivors of child sexual abuse frequently suffer profound consequences throughout adulthood, and many do not disclose their abuse until later in life.  Children who are the targets of sexual abuse can blame themselves or be prevented from reporting the abuse due to intense feelings of fear, disbelief, anger, helplessness, betrayal, and anxiety; incapacity to understand what happened or express their complaint due to their stage of cognitive development; or be afraid of retaliation or the potential negative impact on their family if the abuser was a family member or an individual in a position of influence or power. This measure will allow victims additional time to file a civil cause of action by extending the statute of limitations for certain claims.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2018; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 2719, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2719, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO Chair

____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI Chair