STAND. COM. REP. NO.  587-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2062

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2062, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children and ensure the safety and support of these children by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Human Services to develop a program to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children and assist child victims of commercial sexual exploitation;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Director of Human Services to appoint a statewide coordinator on commercial sexual exploitation of children (Coordinator);

 

     (3)  Establishing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Steering Committee (Steering Committee) and requiring the Steering Committee to submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature;

 

     (4)  Establishing a commercial sexual exploitation of children multidisciplinary team in every county to immediately respond to cases of the sex trafficking of children; and

 

     (5)  Appropriating funds for the program and Coordinator.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Human Services, Department of Education, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Office of the Public Defender, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, Honolulu Police Department, Hoola Na Pua, IMUAlliance, Residential Youth Services and Empowerment, Child and Family Service, Parents and Children Together, and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Harm Reduction Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that many of the most vulnerable children face the threat of being victimized by commercial sexual exploitation.  These young victims are subject to physical, emotional, and psychological abuse by their traffickers.  Your Committee notes that the Internet and other technological advances have facilitated the commercial exploitation of children nationally as well as globally.  This measure supports the collaboration among state and county agencies to combat the abuse and exploitation of children.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Requiring the Coordinator to invite at least four representatives of nonprofit agencies that provide direct services to sexually exploited children to participate on the Steering Committee;

 

     (2)  Amending the information required for the Steering Committee's final report;

 

     (3)  Clarifying the approach and priorities for each multidisciplinary team; and

 

     (4)  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 Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2062, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2062, H.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair