STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1886-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2719

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2719, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to align the statute of limitations for civil actions arising from sexual offenses with the reality that survivors of child sexual abuse tend to delay disclosing abuse until adulthood by extending the period of time during which:

(1) A civil cause of action for the sexual abuse of a minor may be commenced; and

(2) A victim of child sexual abuse may bring an otherwise time-barred civil action against the victim's abuser or a legal entity that is also civilly liable.

The Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest and Hawaii, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Women's Coalition, Rainbow Family 808, Hawaii Children's Action Network, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, and many individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of the Attorney General and an individual testified in opposition.

Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting language from H.B. No. 1847, H.D. 1, which is a similar measure that extends 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.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2719, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2719, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SCOTT Y. NISHIMOTO, Chair