STAND. COM. REP. NO. 406

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 836

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 836 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Allow the Department of Education to offer voluntary training for teachers and educational officers on sex trafficking prevention; and

     (2)  Require the Department to provide explanatory information about sex trafficking prevention and response to teachers and educational officers.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, UNITE, and IMUAlliance.

     Your Committee finds that schools are one of the main social institutions outside of the family in which children have constant contact with adults and their peers.  Your Committee further finds that regular, prolonged interaction with students in the classroom provides teachers with an excellent opportunity to identify the warning signs that a student might be at risk of sex trafficking or exploitation.  This measure will equip teachers and educational officers with resources to help prevent sex trafficking and respond to the risk that sex trafficking poses to Hawaii's students.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 836 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary and Labor.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair