STAND. COM. REP. NO. 915

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 477

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 477, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Allow the Department of Education to provide sexual abuse and sex trafficking prevention training to certain staff; and

(2) Require the Department of Education to make available to certain staff explanatory information about protocols that the Department has approved for providing services to victims of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii State Teachers Association, IMUAlliance, UNITE, Parents and Children Together, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and seven individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committees find that sexual violence is a serious and ongoing threat to the safety, health, and well-being of children and young people in Hawaii. Recognizing and identifying indicators, such as social isolation, removal from the home, and cultivation of dependency, are key in providing greater protection for children who are being exploited or who may be at risk for future sexual exploitation. Because of the amount of time students spend at school, sexual abuse and sex trafficking prevention training for educators and other school staff can facilitate interventions with students who may be at risk of sex trafficking or exploitation or experiencing sexual abuse. This measure will assist teachers and educational officers with resources to better protect Hawaii's children and young people from sexual abuse and sex trafficking throughout the State.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 477, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair