STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2613

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2846

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2846 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEX TRAFFICKING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to remove the statute of limitations for sex trafficking offenses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Hawai‘i State Commission on the Status of Women, Honolulu Police Department, IMUAlliance, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that there is no statute of limitations for sexual assault of a minor, yet sex trafficking of a minor cannot be prosecuted after six years. Your Committee also finds that there is no statue of limitation for sexual assault of an adult by strong compulsion, but sex trafficking of an adult by forcing the person to engage in prostitution cannot be prosecuted after six years.

Your Committee notes that federal trafficking law, section 1591 of Title 18 of the United States Code, criminalizing sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, or sex trafficking of a minor, does not have a statute of limitation. Your Committee recognizes that by removing the statute of limitations, this allows the victims time to receive trauma counseling or services to develop the strength and courage to understand and address the trauma of their abuse with a person of authority.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2846 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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RUSSELL E. RUDERMAN, Chair