STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1209
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: S.B. No. 292
S.D. 1
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 S.B. No. 292, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu; Tagnawa; Imua Alliance; Rights4Girls; Sex Workers Outreach Project of Hawaiʻi; Ohana Unity Party; and two individuals.
Your Committee finds that sex trafficking
remains a serious issue in the State. Survivors often face significant barriers to
seeking help, including fear of prosecution, stigma, and a lack of access to
trauma-informed care. This measure
establishes safe harbor protections to ensure that survivors who seek medical
or law enforcement assistance are not criminalized for their exploitation and,
instead, given the opportunity to access support, seek justice, and rebuild
their lives.
Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 S.B. No. 292, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 292, S.D. 1, 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,
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____________________________ LISA MARTEN, Chair |
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