THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            199
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO
    STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE LAWS
    CONCERNING THE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.


 1        WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that the trafficking in
 2   women and children, and the sexual exploitation of minors, most
 3   of whom are female, is happening at an alarming rate and in
 4   ways most of us are not aware of; and
 5   
 6        WHEREAS, unsuspecting adolescents are being recruited,
 7   coerced, and manipulated into providing sexual services for
 8   adults, not a choice that adolescents are capable of, or should
 9   be, making; and
10   
11        WHEREAS, the Legislature also finds that in some cases,
12   the laws concerning sexual assault are vague and may not be
13   used appropriately with respect to the exploitation of women
14   and children, and that education is an important factor in
15   understanding the issues surrounding commercial and
16   noncommercial sexual exploitation; and
17   
18        WHEREAS, currently, there are laws which are designed to
19   protect minor children from sexual exploitation perpetrated
20   against them by adults; and
21   
22        WHEREAS, victims of exploitation can include men, women,
23   and children of any age, but the majority are women and girls
24   under the age of twenty-five; and
25   
26        WHEREAS, a recent study in Hawaii has revealed that:
27   
28        (1)  There are 1500 - 5000 women and children involved in
29             prostitution activities alone in Honolulu; and
30   
31        (2)  In Hawaii, there is a demand for underage girls and
32             boys to provide sexual services in exchange for money
33             and other favors;
34   
35   and

 
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 1        WHEREAS, individuals victimized are often emotionally
 2   needy, have low self-esteem, and may be materially deprived;
 3   and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, harmful effects of sexual exploitation may
 6   include substance abuse, suicide, sexually transmitted
 7   diseases, depression, and psychological trauma; now, therefore,
 8   
 9        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
10   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2000, the House of
11   Representatives concurring, that the Attorney General is
12   requested to convene a task force to study the laws concerning
13   the sexual exploitation of women and children in Hawaii and
14   make recommendations for improving these laws where
15   appropriate; and
16   
17        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force focus on the
18   specific issues related to:
19   
20        (1)  The commercial exploitation of minors and young
21             women;
22   
23        (2)  The noncommercial exploitation and coercion of young
24             women by men; and
25   
26        (3)  The role and use of current sexual assault laws in
27             protecting women and children from sexual
28             exploitation;
29   
30   and
31   
32        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include, at a
33   minimum, but not be limited to, representatives from: the
34   Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women; the Legal Aid Society
35   of Hawaii; the county police departments; the county
36   prosecuting attorneys; the Department of Health; the Department
37   of Education; the Family Court; and representatives from
38   children and family advocate groups such as the Hawaii Family
39   Forum, Sisters Offering Support, and the Sex Abuse Treatment
40   Center; and
41   
42        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force review existing
43   statutory and penal code provisions, determine if these laws
44   are adequate and appropriate, and make recommendations,
45   including proposed legislation; and
46   

 
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 1        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Attorney General report
 2   the findings and recommendations of the task force to the
 3   Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of
 4   the Regular Session of 2001; and
 5   
 6        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
 7   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General,
 8   the Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women, the Legal Aid
 9   Society of Hawaii, the Chief of each county police department,
10   the Prosecuting Attorney of each county, the Director of
11   Health, the Superintendent of Education, the Administrative
12   Director of the Family Court, Hawaii Family Forum, Sisters
13   Offering Support, and the Sex Abuse Treatment Center.