HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2011

 

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES

Rep. John M. Mizuno, Chair

Rep. Jo Jordan, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Della Au Belatti

Rep. Jessica Wooley

Rep. Faye P. Hanohano

Rep. Ryan I. Yamane

Rep. Chris Lee

Rep. Corinne W.L. Ching

Rep. Dee Morikawa

Rep. Kymberly Marcos Pine

 

NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING

 

DATE:

Thursday, February 17, 2011

TIME:

9:00am – 10:00am

PLACE:

Conference Room 329

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

A G E N D A

 

The purpose of this informational briefing is to discuss human trafficking and its impact in Hawaii, as well as measures against this travesty and violation of human rights.

 

On September 3, 2010, six job recruiters were indicated in federal court in what FBI has called the largest human-trafficking operation ever to result in the United State.  The indictment accuses employees of a California-based company of luring 400 people from Thailand with false promises of lucrative jobs.  In one case, several Thai workers were allegedly detained at a pineapple farm on Maui and told to pay an additional fee of $3,750 to keep their jobs.  Those who refused were sent back to Thailand with unpaid debts.[1]

 

The informational briefing will also focus on the hardships endured by human sex trafficking victims. The briefing with focus on the following areas of human trafficking:

 

1.  Child Labor

2.  Sex Slavery

3.  Forced Labor

4.  Barriers to combating human trafficking

5.  Solutions and policy changes to better address human trafficking

 

The following organizations or individuals have been invited to participate:

 

Department of Human Services, Child Protective Services & Adult Protective Services Branch; and

The Office of the Attorney General or his designee; and

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney or his designee; and

A representative of the Honolulu Police Department; and

Other human trafficking survivors or organizations representing human trafficking victims.

 

ONLY TESTIMONY FROM THOSE ON THE TESTIFIER LIST WILL BE ACCEPTED.

 

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing with a transmittal cover indicating:

·     Testifier's name with position/title and organization;

·     The Committee the comments are directed to;

·     The date and time of the hearing;

 

Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:

PAPER: One copy (including the original) to Room 324 in the State Capitol; or

FAX: For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to 586-8464 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (Neighbor Islands); or

EMAIL: For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to [email protected].

 

 

 

 

 

If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the House public hearing process (i.e., sign or foreign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-6050  or email your request for an interpreter to [email protected] at least 24 hours prior to the hearing for arrangements.  Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.

 

For further information, please call the Committee Clerk at 586-6050.

 

Selected meetings are broadcast live.  Check the current legislative broadcast schedule on the "Capitol TV" Web site at www.capitoltv.org OR call 536-2100.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. John M. Mizuno

Chair

 

 

 

 



[1] CNN News Human Trafficking, September 3, 2010.