STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1666

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 111

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 111 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:

(1) Authorize civil claims to be made against a person, business, business owner, or business operator that profits from sexual exploitation or sex trafficking; and

(2) Extend the statute of limitations for civil claims related to sexual exploitation or sex trafficking to ten years.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaiʻi, Imua Alliance, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Tagnawa, and three individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Sex Workers Outreach Project of Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee finds that sexual exploitation is a devastating crime that not only strips individuals of their autonomy but also inflicts long-lasting physical, emotional, and psychological harm. Your Committee believes that allowing civil claims to be made against individuals or businesses that profit from sex trafficking and sexual exploitation is an essential step toward ensuring that those who facilitate these crimes are held legally responsible. This measure will create an avenue for survivors to seek justice and recover damages for the suffering they have endured.

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 H.B. No. 111, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair