STAND. COM. REP. NO. 518

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 384

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 384 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST MINORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the penalty for promoting minor-produced sexual images to a felony if the person is more than three years older than the minor;

(2) Extend the probationary term for felony obscenity offenses;

(3) Toll the statute of limitations for obscenity offenses during a victim's minority; and

(4) Require sex offender registration for felony obscenity offenses involving minors.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu; Honolulu Police Department; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender.

Your Committee finds that the rise of digital platforms has increased the prevalence of the distribution of minor-produced explicit images, creating an urgent need for stronger legal deterrents. Often, predators posing as peers manipulate minors into sending compromising images, then use threats to demand further images or other forms of compliance. Existing laws inadequately address these cases, particularly when no financial extortion is involved. By increasing penalties and protections for minors, this measure emphasizes accountability and discourages the exploitation of minors in online spaces.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 384, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 384, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair