STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2243

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.C.R. No. 12

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 12, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO AMEND FEDERAL LAW TO ENSURE THAT VICTIMS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL ASSAULT WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE FORCED INTO ARBITRATION AND SILENCE INSTEAD HAVE ACCESS TO THE COURTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request members of the United States Congress to amend federal law to ensure that victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault who might otherwise be forced into arbitration and silence instead have access to the courts.

The Hawai'i Civil Rights Commission, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, AAUW of Hawaii, O'ahu County Democrats Legislative Priorities Committee, Hawai'i State Commission on the Status of Women, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee amended this measure by replacing "Hawaii Women's Legislative Caucus" with "Hawaii State Legislature" on page 2, line 2.

The Hawaii State Legislature recognizes that male victims of sexual assault and harassment are often overlooked; and that this resolution supports all victims regardless of gender.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 12, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 12, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair