STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2008

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1347

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 Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 1347 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Education to offer training for teachers, educational officers, and school-based behavioral health specialists on sex trafficking prevention and response.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Human Services, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Imua Alliance, Opportunity Youth Action Hui, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Rainbow Family 808, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i Education Caucus, Parents and Children Together, Sex Abuse Treatment Center, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Harm Reduction Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. Your Committee further finds that education can prevent sexual exploitation. By empowering students to protect themselves from harm and build healthy relationships, training school staff in how to respond to at-risk youth in a trauma-informed manner, and creating sexual health programs that include providing information about sex trafficking, schools can equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent themselves from becoming victims of sexual exploitation, as minors and upon reaching adulthood. This measure will assist teachers, educational officers, and other school staff with resources to better protect Hawai‘i's children and young people from sex trafficking throughout the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that school-based personnel including security, custodial, and support staff shall also receive training on sex trafficking prevention and response;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 30, 2075, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1347, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1347, S.D. 1.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair