STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3486

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2051

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2051, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROTECTION FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish offenses relating to human trafficking and provide victims of trafficking with defenses to certain offenses that they may have been forced by others to commit.

This measure also makes victims of trafficking eligible for crime victim compensation payments and permits forfeiture of property used in connection with or derived from the commission of trafficking offenses. This measure also requires the Attorney General to report to the Legislature annually regarding human trafficking. Finally, this measure establishes a task force to compile and review information from other states regarding support for victims of human trafficking and requires that the task force recommend changes to Hawaii law and programs.

Your Committee finds that human trafficking is a global problem with local manifestations. Whether for sweatshop labor or sexual exploitation, trafficking victimizes women and children, the poor, and the vulnerable in complex schemes that cross national, state, and local boundaries and that are not readily prosecuted under existing law.

Your Committee also finds, however, that the response to the local manifestation of this global problem requires careful consideration of the nature and extent of the problem as it exists in Hawaii, the current state of our laws, the resources available to combat human trafficking in Hawaii, and the best practices to address our particular needs.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting the substantive statutory provisions while retaining, with modifications, provisions relating to establishing an anti-trafficking task force. Your Committee has further amended this measure by changing the sum to be appropriated to an unspecified amount and by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2051, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2051, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair