STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3268

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2502

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2502, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHILD ABUSE REPORTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to include in the list of persons who are required to report child abuse or neglect: commercial film and photographic print or image processors, commercial computer technicians, members of the clergy, and administrators and employees of any public or private organization whose duties require direct contact with or supervision of children.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Youth Services Network, IMUAlliance, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that individuals working in fields such as medicine, law enforcement, and social services are mandated to report instances of child abuse or neglect; however, Hawaii is only one of four states and three United States territories that do not include members of the clergy as mandatory reporters. Your Committee further finds that as sexual exploitation of children continues to occur online, to protect more children from exploitation and abuse, computer technicians should be required to report to law enforcement any computer files containing child pornography. This measure updates Hawaii's mandatory child abuse and neglect reporting law by adding members of the clergy, except when information is received during penitential communication; commercial computer technicians; commercial film and photographic print or image processors; and administrators and employees of organizations that have direct contact with or supervision of children to the categories of persons who are required to report.

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. 2502, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair