STAND. COM. REP. NO. 4057

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 137

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 137, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO ESTABLISH OR CONTRACT WITH A VICTIM SERVICE PROVIDER TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Human Services to establish or contract with a victim service provider to operate and maintain an emergency shelter for children who are survivors of sex trafficking.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Youth Services Network and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Office of Youth Services.

Your Committee finds that the number of victims subjected to commercial sexual exploitation has increased significantly over recent years. Your Committee also finds, however, that the State lacks a sufficient number of facilities to serve as emergency shelters for child survivors of sex trafficking. This measure aims to address this void by urging the Department of Human Services to provide an emergency shelter to address the imminent and specific needs of child survivors of sex trafficking and provide them with protection and a coordinated continuum of care at a centralized location.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 137, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 137, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair