STAND. COM. REP. NO. 155-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2062

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2062 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and ensure the safety and support of these children by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Human Services to develop a program to prevent the sexual exploitation of children and assist child victims of sexual exploitation;

(2) Requiring the Director of Human Services to appoint a statewide coordinator on commercial sexual exploitation of children (coordinator);

(3) Establishing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Steering Committee (Steering Committee) and requiring the Steering Committee to submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature;

(4) Establishing a commercial sexual exploitation of children multidisciplinary team in every county to immediately respond to cases of the sex trafficking of children; and

(5) Appropriating funds for the program and coordinator.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Human Services, Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, Americans for Democratic Action, The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, IMUAlliance, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Harm Reduction Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that many of the most vulnerable children face the threat of being victimized by commercial sexual exploitation. These young victims are subject to physical, emotional, and psychological abuse by their traffickers. Your Committee notes that the Internet and other technological advances have facilitated the commercial exploitation of children nationally as well as globally. This measure supports the collaboration among state and county agencies to combat the abuse and exploitation of children.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding the Public Defender or the Public Defender's designee as a member of the Steering Committee;

(2) Changing its effective date to December 31, 2059, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2062, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2062, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair